According to the data released by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), as of the end of January (January 31) this year, the composite steel price index (CSPI) for the Chinese domestic market was at 106.27 points, down 0.85 points or 0.79 percent month on month, while decreasing by 8.47 points or 7.38 percent on year-on-year basis.
At the end of January, the CSPI long steel index was at 111.99 points, down 1.27 points or 1.12 percent month on month and decreasing by 7.65 points or 6.39 percent year on year, while the CSPI flat steel index stood at 102.53 points, decreasing by 0.41 points or 0.40 percent month on month and down 9.78 points or 8.71 percent year on year.
As of the end of January this year, among the eight main steel products monitored by the CISA, prices of high-speed wire rod, rebar, hot rolled seamless pipe, hot rolled coil (HRC) and cold rolled sheet (CRS) decreased by RMB 86/mt ($12.7/mt), RMB 46/mt ($6.8/mt), RMB 43/mt ($6.4/mt), RMB 17/mt ($2.5/mt) and RMB 49/mt ($7.3/mt), while prices of angles, medium plate and hot dip galvanized (HDG) increased by RMB 1/mt ($0.15/mt), RMB 15/mt ($2.2/mt) and RMB 36/mt ($5.3/mt), respectively, all compared to the price levels at the end of December 2018.