During the week ending April 21, steel plate prices in the Chinese domestic market have indicated some minor fluctuations, with a very slight uptick observed in prices of common carbon medium plates and with some small decreases seen in prices of low alloy medium plates and shipbuilding plates. Meanwhile, transaction activity has remained at poor levels, with no significant improvement in demand. Average steel plate prices in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
During the given week, both positive and negative factors have influenced medium plate prices in China. On the one hand, inventory pressure in the Chinese domestic medium plate market has not been on the high side, while increased ex-works prices from steelmakers have provided a certain degree of support for local medium plate prices. On the other hand, transaction activity at steel mills with higher prices has not been great and traders are not inclined to hold an optimistic view of the future prospects for the market. Meanwhile, the weak trend observed in raw material prices has also exerted a negative impact on medium plate prices.
It is expected that medium plate prices in the Chinese domestic market will indicate slight fluctuating movements in the coming week.