Leading Chinese steelmakers Angang Steel and Bensteel Group have announced their pricing strategy for April 2025, opting to keep prices steady across most core product categories in a bid to maintain market share and manage inventory amid sluggish demand.
Prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC), cold-rolled coil (CRC), and galvanized steel will remain unchanged from March levels. However, Angang has reduced the price of seamless steel by 50 yuan per metric ton, citing moderate oversupply and weak downstream demand in the construction and oil & gas sectors.
This price stability suggests that Chinese producers are adopting a cautious approach, prioritizing long-term market positioning over short-term gains. Analysts note that while domestic demand remains soft, global buyers—especially in Southeast Asia and the Middle East—are closely watching Chinese pricing trends, which often influence regional benchmarks.
"China is walking a tightrope," said metals analyst Liu Zheng. "If prices rise too quickly, they lose export markets. If they fall, margins disappear. These micro-adjustments are a signal that mills are trying to balance both."
Market observers are now focused on May’s pricing direction, especially in light of fluctuating input costs and ongoing trade tensions in Asia and Europe.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
