In the northern Chinese market, steel plate prices have remained stable during the week ending August 25. However, in the southern and eastern Chinese market, plate prices have shown a slight softening, especially for common carbon plates. As of August 25, average steel plate prices in the main Chinese regions are as follows:
Product name | Specification | Category | Average price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
Common carbon medium plate | 20 mm | Q235 | 4,397 | -20 | 648 | -3 |
Low alloy medium plate | 20 mm | Q345 | 4,575 | -10 | 675 | -1 |
Shipbuilding plate | 16 mm | CCS A/B | 4,750 | -13 | 702 | -2 |
In northern China, major steel producers have not yet announced new pricing policies, and so plate prices in the region are almost at the same levels as in the previous week. In comparison, the eastern and southern markets have started to show signs of weakening, especially in the common carbon plate market. Due to the short supplies of low alloy semi-finished materials, prices of low alloy medium plate and thick plate have remained relatively strong.
Influenced by the Chinese government's energy saving and emissions reduction program and by differential electricity pricing, domestic steel production has come under pressure to some extent in recent weeks. It is expected that steel plate prices in China will trend sideways in the short term, with a reduced possibility of further upticks.