On December 10, Chinese steel giant Baosteel announced its ex-factory prices for flat steel products for the month of January 2010. The details are as follows:
1. Hot rolled prices have increased by RMB 300/mt ($44/mt), with discounts of RMB 200/mt ($29/mt) being canceled. As a result, the new price of 2.75 mm-3.0 mm SPHC is now at RMB 4,242/mt ($622/mt), while that of SS400 stands at RMB 3,842/mt ($563/mt).
2. Medium plate prices are up by RMB 50/mt ($7/mt), while discounts of RMB 100/mt ($15/mt) for this material have been canceled. Thus, the ex-factory price of common shipbuilding plate (A plate) is now at RMB 4,000/mt ($587/mt), while that of Q235A common carbon plate is RMB 3,700/mt ($543/mt); Q345A low alloy plate is now offered at RMB 3,850/mt ($565/mt), with the price of Q345R boiler plate standing at RMB 4,000/mt ($587/mt).
3. Cold rolled prices have gone up by RMB 550/mt ($81/mt). As a result, the price of 1.0 mm SPCC is at RMB 5,326/mt ($781/mt).
4. Prices of hot rolled pickled products have jumped up by RMB 400/mt ($59/mt), with the price of 2.75-3.0 mm SPHC now at RMB 4,797/mt ($703/mt).
5. Prices of hot dip galvanized coils are up by RMB 400/mt ($59/mt). Following the adjustment, the price of 1.0 mm x 1,250 mm DC51D+Z is at RMB 5,377/mt ($788/mt).
6. Prices of electrogalvanized products have seen an increase of RMB 600/mt ($88/mt).
7. Color coated prices have risen by RMB 300/mt ($44/mt).
8. Prices of non-grain-oriented silicon steel have increased by RMB 600/mt ($88/mt).
All the above prices exclude 17 percent VAT and are effective as of December 10, 2009.
$1 = RMB 6.82