China Steel Price Update: Flat Products Hold Steady, Long & Industrial Metals Diverge
Daily Price Signal & Delta
Hot Rolled Coil (HRC) and Rebar (HRB400) both edged down ~0.27%–0.28% to $542.02/t and $553.94/t FOB respectively, marking the quietest session in weeks. Mid-Thick Plate (8mm Q235B) stood out with a +0.5% rise to $613.50/t. Long products (angles, channels, I-beams) remained unchanged at ~$534–$560/t. Industrial steel diverged: Prestressed Strand (82B) climbed +0.8% to $945.56/t, while Boiler & Pressure Plate (Q345R) posted $679.02/t with no prior-day comparison available.
Landed Cost Implications
With FOB benchmarks flat on HRC and rebar, ocean freight and tariff variance now drive landed-cost uncertainty. A $15/t freight swing outweighs the ~$1.50/t FOB drift observed today.
| Product | FOB Vector | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| HRC 2.75mm | Flat (-0.28%) | Lock spot if freight < $45/t |
| Rebar HRB400 | Flat (-0.27%) | Hold for Q4 demand signal |
| Mid-Thick Plate 8mm | Rising (+0.5%) | Consider partial buy now |
→ **Landed Cost Calculator** to model freight, duty, and inland costs by port.
Procurement Strike Zone
- Long-rebar buyers: Hold & Monitor. No directional signal from HRC or rebar; wait for week-end inventories before committing. - Flat-product buyers: Lock in Freight Rates for HRC and cold-rolled positions; thick plate momentum favors early coverage. - Industrial-steel buyers: Strong Buy Window on prestressed strand (82B) — the +0.8% move suggests tightening supply.
Execute orders via **RFQ Gateway** with target FOB bands pre-filled.
Key Prices (USD/ton)
2026-09-14| Product | Spot USD | FOB | Vietnam | Philippines | Thailand | Indonesia | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Speed Wire Rod | $561 ¥3770 | $573.29 | $601 | $605 | $603 | $608 | $606 |
| Rebar | $542 ¥3640 | $553.94 | $582 | $586 | $584 | $589 | $587 |
| Spiral Rebar | $597 ¥4010 | $609.03 | $637 | $641 | $639 | $644 | $642 |
| Hot Rolled Coil | $530 ¥3560 | $542.02 | $570 | $574 | $572 | $577 | $575 |
| Cold Rolled Coil | $591 ¥3970 | $603.07 | $631 | $635 | $633 | $638 | $636 |
| Medium Plate | $602 ¥4040 | $613.5 | $642 | $646 | $644 | $649 | $647 |
| Angle Steel | $523 ¥3510 | $534.58 | $563 | $567 | $565 | $570 | $568 |
| Channel Steel | $526 ¥3530 | $537.56 | $566 | $570 | $568 | $573 | $571 |