On April 1, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced that during last week (March 24-30) the overall average finished steel price in China remained stable compared to the previous week.
In the given week, the average price of 16 mm common round bar was down 0.2 percent, while the average prices of 145 mm x 2.5 mm hot rolled common sheet and 5 mm x 5 mm angles were up 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, week on week.
In the week ending March 30, the average price of minerals in China was down 2.5 percent compared to the previous week. In particular, the average prices of iron ore, antimony ore and tungsten ore were down three percent, 1.1 percent and 0.8 percent respectively, week on week. Meanwhile, the average price of copper ore was up 1.5 percent compared to the previous week.
In the given week, the average price of non-ferrous metals in China was up 0.3 percent compared to the previous week. The average price of nickel (Ni >= 99.2%) was down 3.8 percent week on week.
In addition, in the week in question, the average price of energy in China decreased by 0.8 percent week on week. The average prices of brown coal, bituminous coal and anthracite coal remained stable overall in the given week. Meanwhile, the average price of crude oil was up 0.1 percent, while the average price of metallurgical coke was down three percent, both week on week.