The shipbuilding negotiations in the fourth quarter of 2012 between Korean shipbuilding companies and Japanese steelmakers were postponed until 2013 and may be merged with the first quarter of this year.

South Korean shipbuilding company asked to lower prices because international heavy plate prices are about 500 US dollars / ton, iron ore, coal and other raw material prices fell, but due to the deterioration of earnings and the possibility of South Korea's anti-dumping investigation, the Japanese steel mills hope to increase prices. At present, the prices of international hot coils are on the rise, but the price of heavy plates is lower than that of hot coils.

In 2013, the demand for Korean ships was about 10 million tons, which was 2 million tons less than last year.