STEEL prices are expected to increase between 10 and 15 per cent in the next few months on the resumption of private and public construction activities after the Chinese New Year celebrations, says OSK Research.

It said average selling prices of steel products escalated since December 2009, but the increase was mainly driven by the cost-push element.

'We continue to think that with on-going projects perhaps helping to sustain 70 per cent of regular annual long steel consumption, the balance may be compensated if most public projects are executed in a timely manner,' it said.

OSK said local steel mills have been exporting more than one million tonnes of steel products, annually, in the last two years.

Malaysia''s exports escalated after China imposed a 25 per cent export tax on billets, creating a vacuum of five million tonnes of billets in the South East Asia market.

China previously supplied 75 per cent of the region's requirements.

'Improvements in the economies of the Middle East, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh are also expected to be a boon to Malaysia's billet exports,' it added. - Bernama"