H-beam Market Price to Rebound in Asia

H-beam market price shows sign of rebound in Asia after the downward trend. Japanese integrated steel makers succeeded in increasing the export price by around US$ 20 per tonne in some cases for March shipment and the makers offer higher price for April.

World major H-beam makers including ArcelorMittal and Hyundai Steel apparently increase offer price by US$ 30-40 to around CFR US$ 800 for April shipment for Asia compared with the level in February. The makers try to increase the price due to higher ferrous scrap cost when flat rolled steel market price would increase mainly for hot rolled flat steel.

The price increase pace would be slow when H-beam demand slows in the largest market of China under higher inventory. The negotiation could be severe with the buyers while the makers try to improve the profitability by covering higher scrap cost.