14J938 Blast-Resistant and Pressure-Ventilated Doors, Windows, Roofs, and Walls: Architectural Construction

14J938 Blast-Resistant and Pressure-Ventilated Doors, Windows, Roofs, and Walls: Architectural Construction

2017 Steel Price Forecast: China’s Steel Market Demand to Boost Prices, but Risks Remain

Inventory declined month-on-month, signaling the onset of peak-season demand. This week, transaction data across the tracked regions showed an overall rebound: Beijing’s sales fell 6.0% month-on-month, while Wuhan’s rose 11.1% month-on-month. On the inventory front, social steel stocks stood at 15.2 million tonnes, down 1.0% from the previous week—consistent with the post-holiday pattern of a 3–4-week build-up followed by a peak and subsequent decline by late February. This week’s month-on-month drop in inventory sends a positive signal, indicating that peak-season demand has begun to pick up. With the peak season now underway, operating rates have continued to rise this week: nationwide blast-furnace utilization reached 75.1%, up 0.4 percentage points month-on-month; in Tangshan, blast-furnace utilization climbed to 83.7%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the prior week.