In the January-March period of the current year, China’s crude steel output amounted to 231.07 million mt, up 9.9 percent year on year, as announced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In the given period, China’s finished steel output and coke output amounted to 269.07 million mt and 112.17 million mt, up 10.8 percent and 7.3 percent year on year, respectively.
As also indicated by the NDRC, in March this year China's average composite steel price index issued by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) was at 109.16 points, up 1.68 points compared to February and decreasing by 4.68 points year on year.
In particular, in March of the current year, the average prices in China of 6.5 mm high-speed wire rod and 1.0 mm cold rolled coil (CRC) were respectively RMB 4,003/mt ($592.2/mt), and RMB 4,468/mt ($660.9/mt), up RMB 64/mt ($9.5/mt) and RMB 111/mt ($16.4/mt) compared to February. The prices in question rose by 1.0 percent and declined by 5.8 percent on year-on-year basis, respectively. Meanwhile, in March this year, the average price of 20 mm common medium plate was recorded at RMB 4,030/mt ($596.2), up RMB 66/mt ($9.8/mt) compared to February, while down 4.8 percent year on year.