Cold-Rolled Steel Products Prices in China

China Cold-Rolled Steel Products Export Price in August 2022

In August 2022, the cold-rolled steel products price amounted to $1,941 per ton (FOB, China), waning by -5.9% against the previous month. Overall, the export price saw a pronounced decrease. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in April 2022 when the average export price increased by 20% month-to-month. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $2,362 per ton. From May 2022 to August 2022, the the average export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination: the country with the highest price was India ($6,339 per ton), while the average price for exports to Ghana ($865 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Vietnam (+4.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Cold-Rolled Steel Products Export Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, cold-rolled ($5,214 per ton), while the average price for exports of iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm ($868 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for the following types: iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, cold-rolled, of a width less than 600mm, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon (+4.3%), while the prices for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Cold-Rolled Steel Products Exports

In August 2022, overseas shipments of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) decreased by -2.8% to 547K tons, falling for the second consecutive month after four months of growth. In general, exports, however, continue to indicate a tangible expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in May 2022 with an increase of 59% m-o-m. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at 782K tons in June 2022; however, from July 2022 to August 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, cold-rolled steel products exports shrank to $1.1B (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. Over the period under review, total exports indicated mild growth from January 2022 to August 2022: its value increased at an average monthly rate of +1.0% over the last seven months. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on August 2022 figures, exports decreased by -30.6% against June 2022 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in May 2022 when exports increased by 35% month-to-month. The exports peaked at 1.5M tons in June 2022; however, from July 2022 to August 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

China Cold-Rolled Steel Products Exports by Type

Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm (153K tons), iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm (89K tons) and steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm (61K tons) were the main products of cold-rolled steel products exports from China, together comprising 55% of total exports. Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm, steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, cold-rolled, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm, iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, cold-rolled, of a width less than 600mm, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, iron or non-alloy steel, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, steel, alloy, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm and iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 45%.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the major product types, was attained by steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled (with a CAGR of +38.5%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the most traded types of flat-rolled products of iron or steel (not further worked than cold-rolled) in China were steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm ($209M), steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm ($197M) and steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, cold-rolled ($151M), together accounting for 52% of total exports. These products were followed by iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm, iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm, steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm, iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, cold-rolled, of a width less than 600mm, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm, iron or non-alloy steel, steel, alloy, iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more, iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more and iron or non-alloy steel; (not in coils), flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm, which together accounted for a further 48%.

Among the main product categories, steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, with a CAGR of +33.5%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

China Cold-Rolled Steel Products Exports by Country

Colombia (45K tons), Indonesia (40K tons) and India (33K tons) were the main destinations of cold-rolled steel products exports from China, together comprising 22% of total exports.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the biggest increases were in Colombia (with a CAGR of +32.8%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, India ($209M) remains the key foreign market for cold-rolled steel products exports from China, comprising 20% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Indonesia ($51M), with a 4.8% share of total exports. It was followed by Turkey, with a 4.4% share.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly growth rate of value to India totaled +1.7%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average monthly rates of exports growth: Indonesia (-2.1% per month) and Turkey (+3.2% per month).

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform