China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has announced that during last week (December 30-January 5) the overall average finished steel price in China decreased by 0.1 percent week on week.
In the given week, the average prices of 12 mm rebar, 140 mm x 88 mm x 6 mm H-section steel and 10 mm common medium plate were down 0.2 percent, 0.1 percent and 0.1 percent week on week, respectively. Meanwhile, the average prices of 80 mm x 43 mm x 5 mm channel bar and 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm equal angles remained stable on week-on-week basis.
In the week ending January 5, the average price of minerals in China was down 1.2 percent compared to the previous week. In particular, the average prices of iron ore and zinc ore were down 1.4 percent and 0.5 percent respectively, while the average prices of lead ore and tin ore remained stable and the average price of copper ore was up 0.5 percent, all week on week.
In the given week, the average price of non-ferrous metals in China was up 0.4 percent compared to the previous week. However, the average price of nickel (>=99.2%) was down 1.1 percent week on week.
In addition, in the week in question the average price of energy in China was up 0.9 percent week on week. The average prices of brown coal, bituminous coal and anthracite coal were up three percent, 1.8 percent and 1.5 percent respectively, while the average price of crude oil was up 1.2 percent, all week on week.