Over the past week China's domestic medium plate prices continued their soft trend against the background of weakening market confidence. As a result of their rapid drop, market prices gradually drew close to mills' production costs, causing the prices of materials from some second tier mills to see a minor rebound.
Product name |
Specification |
Category |
Average price (RMB/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Price($/mt) |
Weekly change ($/mt) |
Common carbon medium plate |
20 mm |
Q235 |
3,400 |
-93 |
498 |
-14 |
Low alloy medium plate |
20 mm |
Q345 |
3,500 |
-105 |
512 |
-16 |
16 mm |
CCS A/B |
4,017 |
-33 |
588 |
-5 |
China's domestic medium plate prices have been pushing towards mills' production cost levels. In the past week, market prices of medium plate in Tianjin have been at RMB 3,200/mt ($469/mt), while the price level in the Shanghai market has been around RMB 3,400/mt ($498/mt), with prices reaching RMB 3,580/mt ($469/mt) in Lecong. Nevertheless, domestic Q235 slab is being offered at RMB 3,350/mt ($490/mt), while slab prices in Handan are even up to the level RMB 3,700/mt ($542/mt). Moreover, recent quotations of Indian slab are at $350/mt CFR, with the final cost to China at around RMB 3,000/mt ($439/mt) after adding taxes and other charges. Therefore, given the limited room for further downward movement, the medium plate prices have remained stable for the time being, with some slight rebound even observed in some regions.
In eastern China, prices of supplies from some second tier mills underwent a minor rebound, with the prices of Xiceng Steel, Chunye Steel and other producers jumping from the previous level of RMB 3,250/mt ($476/mt) to RMB 3,330/mt ($488/mt); however, the prices from first-tier suppliers have remained unchanged. Meanwhile, purchasers seemed unwilling to buy materials when the market trend was down, resulting in the sluggish market performance; and it was only after the small market rebound that the trading volume increased slightly. However, inventory levels have continued to retain their rising trend in recent days, and so cost issues alone are not sufficient to give prices a lift. As regards demand, apart from some necessary purchases, most end-side buyers have cut their purchasing volume on account of the low activity levels of the downstream industry.
With regard to the export market, quotations of medium plate have followed the downward trend of the domestic market, with current export deal prices generally at around $500/mt FOB. Due to the insufficient orders recently received by the mills, and also given the significant levels of inventory pressure, mills may offer their materials at even lower levels.