WEEKLY: China's stainless market stabilises as costs firm, 304 prices edge higher

Firmer production costs kept China's spot market for stainless steel generally stable in all major trading hubs last week, according to Mysteel's latest assessments. While prices for the benchmark 304-grade increased marginally, those for 200- and 400-series held steady.

On December 19, Mysteel assessed the price of 201/J2-grade cold-rolled coil (CRC) in East China's Wuxi at Yuan 7,250/tonne ($1,030/t) in-warehouse and including the 13% VAT, unchanged on week. Similarly, the spot price of 430/2B 2mm stainless CRC in the same city was Yuan 7,500/t on the same basis,