Baosteel increases hot-rolled coil prices by $28/t for September sales

Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group, is increasing its prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) by 200 yuan per tonne ($27.8/t) for domestic sales in September.

The company is announcing a hike in its list prices for HRC for the second consecutive month. Baosteel raised them by 100 yuan/t for local sales in August.

The same increase – 200 yuan per tonne ($27.8/t) – applies to plate. In addition, higher prices were announced for hot-dip galvanized coil and cold-rolled steel – they rose by 300 yuan/t ($42/t).

According to market analysts, Baosteel’s price adjustment reflects expectations of an imminent end to the off-season, when consuming companies will begin to accumulate stock.

For four consecutive months (April–July), the company maintained flat product prices unchanged. The exception was February, when Baosteel raised them by 100 yuan per tonne ($14/t) for March sales ahead of the peak season.

HRC production among 37 Chinese flat product manufacturers regularly monitored by Mysteel, fell to 3.15 million t from July 31 to August 6 (down 2.4% from the previous week). It is noted that the reduction was mainly due to maintenance of rolling mills at a steel plant in northeast China.

It should be recalled that during July 2025, China increased steel exports by 1.6% compared to the previous month, reaching 9.836 million t. In January–July, total exports of metal products amounted to 67.983 million t (+11.4% year-on-year).