WEEKLY: China’s steel exports weak, imports grow popular

China’s steel export market remained tepid last week, even though the price gaps between Chinese sellers and their major competitors narrowed, according to Mysteel’s latest weekly report. By contrast, Chinese interest in imports, especially those of wire rod, became more active, trader sources say.

Export prices of Chinese steel reversed down last week, with that for SS400 4.75mm hot-rolled coil (HRC) shrinking by $8/tonne on week to $931/t FOB from North China’s Tianjin port as of October 15, according to Mysteel’s assessment. The SPCC 1.0mm cold-rolled coil (CRC) export price also reversed down $5/t