China Steel Hikes Sheet Steel, China’s Wire Rod Offer Drops to Japan

China Steel Corporation notified Japanese buyers of the intention to increase the steel sheet export price hike for the shipment in August-October, according to the industry source. The Taiwanese steel maker plans to increase the cold rolled sheet by more than 7,000 yen per tonne and hot rolled sheet, pickling steel and galvanized steel by more than 5,000 yen to pass the raw material cost increase.

Chinese steel wire rod makers reduced the wire rod export offer by US$ 10 to C&F US$ 590-600 per tonne to Japan from the previous week, according to a trade firm source. The price may bottom out when the Chinese makers say their profitability hurts when the price declines more. However, the price could decline more, according to the source.

The wire rod offer price was US$ 650-700 per tonne in May. However, the price has been decreasing when international steel market price decreases and Chinese government tries to cool overheated real estate investment.