[SMM Steel]

[Flat products]Today HRC and other flat-product export prices rose by 3-4 USD/tonne day on day, with HRC transactions concentrated in the 490-493 USD/tonne range. Enquiry sentiment in the market was relatively active today, but prices rose too quickly and some customers had already purchased last week, leaving deals unremarkable. [Billet]Today billet export FOB prices rose by 4 USD/tonne, with Jiangyin port offers at 455-460 USD/tonne. According to market feedback, basis-priced offers mostly followed the rebar futures board higher today; compared with other overseas billet export offers the advantage is not obvious, competitive pressure is heavy and billet export order-taking has been unsatisfactory. [Rebar]Today rebar export offers at Tianjin port followed the futures board higher, up by 4 USD/tonne, with overall transactions at 478-483 USD/tonne. According to exporters, the rally on the board lifted spot offers in step; overseas end-users made some enquiries but mostly stayed on the sidelines with limited willingness to accept higher prices, leaving overall deals weak.

[Sheets & Plates] Today, export prices for hot-rolled coil and other sheets & plates rose $3-4/mt day-on-day, with transaction prices for hot-rolled coil concentrated in the $490-493/mt range. Market inquiry sentiment was relatively positive today, but due to the rapid price increase and some clients having already made purchases last week, market transactions were generally moderate.