Information and Statistics Department of China Scrap Steel Utilization Association：

Recently, the domestic scrap steel market has been weak at first and then strong. Price fluctuations are not large, market resource circulation is low, base receipts have become more difficult, the arrival volume of steel companies has shrunk significantly, and scrap steel consumption has declined. Compared with the previous week, the average scrap purchase price of key steel companies was reduced by 14 yuan/ton for heavy scrap, 24 yuan/ton for medium scrap, and 10 yuan/ton for aggregate scrap.

In April, as steel prices stabilized and rose again, the eighth round of coke price cuts was implemented, and the profits of steel companies recovered slightly, which was good for scrap steel. Affected by the improving market conditions, scrap steel merchants have been waiting to wait and see, with little willingness to ship. The scrap transaction volume is low, and the arrival of steel companies is poor. Some steel companies have inventory replenishment needs, which supports scrap steel prices. However, considering that the price of finished products has repeatedly fluctuated, terminal demand has not improved significantly, and the price difference between hot metal and scrap steel has been upside down. It is not cost-effective for long-process steel companies to use scrap steel, and short-process steel companies are still in a state of loss. It is difficult to significantly increase scrap steel consumption.Taken together, it is expected that the domestic scrap steel market will consolidate in the short term and the price increase will be limited.

Scrap steel prices in East China have stopped falling and stabilized, merchants' shipment speed has dropped, and steel companies are not making good profits, and they mainly purchase on demand. The purchase price of Nanjing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.'s heavy scrap steel is 2,700 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Shagang heavy scrap steel is 2,760 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Xingcheng Special Steel's heavy scrap steel is 2,710 yuan/ton, a decrease of 20 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Maanshan Iron and Steel's heavy scrap steel is 2,710 yuan/ton. 2,460 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Tongling Fuxin heavy scrap steel is 2,720 yuan/ton, a decrease of 100 yuan/ton; the bidding price of Shandong Laigang steel chip briquettes is 2,740 yuan/ton, an increase of 20 yuan/ton tons; Ningbo Iron and Steel's base purchase price of heavy scrap steel in April was 2,407 yuan/ton, which was reduced by 300 yuan/ton.

The price of scrap steel in Central China fell first and then rose. Bases are waiting to see if goods are available. The arrival volume of steel companies is less than the daily consumption, and there is a need to restock. The purchase price of heavy scrap steel at Angang is 2,880 yuan/ton; the purchase price for heavy scrap steel at Wugang is 2,980 yuan/ton, increased by 50 yuan/ton; the purchase price for heavy scrap steel at Hunan Iron and Steel Henggang is 2,390 yuan/ton; the purchase price for low-sulfur briquette scrap at Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. The purchase price is 2,740 yuan/ton.

The scrap steel market in South China is operating strongly. After the price rise, the tight market supply has been alleviated, and the inventories of steel companies have slowly increased. The purchasing price of Sanzang Minguang heavy scrap steel is 2,660 yuan/ton, increased by 50 yuan/ton; the ex-factory price of Shaogang Heavy Duty II scrap steel is 2,610 yuan/ton, increased by 100 yuan/ton; Anshan Iron and Steel Lianzhong first-grade carbon steel scrap steel The purchase price (crushed material) is 2,680 yuan/ton.

Scrap steel prices in the southwest region are mainly stable, and the base receipt situation is average. After steel companies’ scrap purchase prices increased slightly, the arrival situation has not improved yet. The heavy-duty scrap price of Chongqing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. is 2,420 yuan/ton excluding tax, a decrease of 20 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Kunming Iron and Steel's briquette scrap steel is 2,450 yuan/ton.

The price of scrap steel in the northwest region is rising steadily. The cost-effectiveness of using scrap steel for smelting is not high, and steel companies are not very enthusiastic about using scrap steel. The purchase price of Xining Special Steel's heavy-duty scrap is 2,619 yuan/ton, an increase of 70 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Jiugang's medium-sized scrap is 2,500 yuan/ton, a decrease of 70 yuan/ton.

Scrap steel prices in the Northeast are stable, base inventory levels are low, merchants operate according to market trends, some steel companies are undergoing maintenance, and scrap steel consumption is low. The purchase price of Jianlong Xigang (Yichun area) heavy scrap steel is 2870 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Anshan Iron and Steel heavy scrap steel is 2910 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Fushun Special Steel heavy scrap steel is 2750 yuan/ton, a decrease of 70 yuan/ton; The factory price of heavy and medium-sized steel shear materials excluding tax is 2,560 yuan/ton, which is reduced by 110 yuan/ton.

Scrap steel prices in North China have stopped falling and increased, the circulation of market resources has accelerated, steel companies have limited profit margins, and their purchasing enthusiasm is average. The purchase price of heavy scrap steel at Shougang Qiangang is 2,830 yuan/ton, a decrease of 50 yuan/ton; the purchase price of heavy-duty second-class scrap steel of Tianjin Steel Pipe is 2,860 yuan/ton, a decrease of 80 yuan/ton; the purchase price of medium-sized scrap steel at Baotou Steel is 2,939 yuan/ton , a decrease of 43 yuan/ton; the price of heavy scrap steel at Hegang Shigang Steel without tax is 2,629 yuan/ton, a decrease of 9 yuan/ton.

《China Metallurgical News》 (April 17, 2024, Page 06, Page 6)

 Source: China Metallurgical News-China Steel News Network