North China: the ex works price of common carbon billet and 20MnSi billet dropped CNY 20 per tonne to CNY 3,310 per tonne and CNY 3,430 per tonne respectively.

In Shanxi's Linfen, the ex works price of common carbon billet leveled off at CNY 3,250 per tonne.

In Anyang, Henan province, the ex works price of common carbon billet gained CNY 30 per tonne to around CNY 3,350 per tonne.

Northeast China: the ex works price of common carbon billet in Liaoyang and Anshan came at separately CNY 3,390 per tonne and CNY 3,380 per tonne, up by CNY 20 per tonne.

East China: the ex works price of 20MnSi billet advanced further at CNY 3,330 to CNY 3,350 per tonne in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, up CNY 50 per tonne. A few producers gave higher quotation at CNY 3,450 per tonne.

In Zibo, Shandong province, the ex works price of common carbon billet rose by CNY 10 per tonne to CNY 3,370 per tonne.

South China: the ex works price of 20MnSi billet in Guangdong and Fujian increased by CNY 20 per tonne to CNY 3,520 per tonne and CNY 3,500 per tonne respectively.

Summary: Prices of semis in China were still rising but the pace slowed. In Tangshan, a decline of CNY 20 per tonne was registered amid insipid trading due to falling strip prices. We expect the Chinese semis prices to be generally steady on October 10th 2012, but with a potential cool down in some markets.

Source - www.steelhome.cn/en
China steel information centre and industry database

(www.steelguru.com)