Posted on 22 Apr 2026
Chinese export prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) climbed again during April 13-17, reaching a one-year high, though overseas buying remained constrained by shipping volatility and cautious market sentiment, Mysteel Global learned.
On April 17, Mysteel assessed the export price of SS400 3mm commercial-grade HRC at North China's Tianjin port at $488/t FOB, higher by $5/t on week.
The price rise was mainly driven by higher raw material costs, according to a Shanghai-based ferrous analyst. Rising production costs prompted Chinese steelmakers to firm their offers to $489-505/t FOB in the latter half of last week, with some mills raising quotes by $5-10/t, Mysteel's latest market roundup showed.
Despite the price increases, overall buying activity remained limited, as uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict continued to weigh on market sentiment.
In Vietnam, a key regional market, HRC import prices continued to trend higher. Japanese 2mm hot coil was quoted at around $640/t CFR Vietnam for June shipment on April 17, up sharply from $568/t the previous week, according to Mysteel's price tracking. However, these higher offers were largely deemed too expensive, resulting in only limited transactions, mainly from buyers with immediate procurement needs.
Similarly, 3mm hot coil from Malaysia to Vietnam rose from $550/t CFR two weeks earlier to $605/t CFR Vietnam by last Friday, but this failed to generate real buying interest. Indonesian 3mm HRC offers also edged up to $585/t FOB in the latter half of last week -- equivalent to about $600/t CFR Vietnam -- marking a $5/t weekly increase.
Elsewhere, Chinese 3mm HRC offers for July delivery remained unchanged on week at $512-530/t CFR Vietnam, Mysteel's price tracking showed. However, newly imposed anti-circumvention duties of 27.83% on Chinese wide-width hot coil, effective April 17, had reduced supply to Vietnam and heightened importer caution, Mysteel Global learned.
Rapid increases in imported HRC prices, coupled with limited improvement in downstream product prices, had prompted many Vietnamese galvanizing and pipe manufacturers to scale back purchases. Instead, they were prioritizing inventory turnover and avoiding large-volume orders, according to local sources.
During the survey week, China's export price for SPCC 1.0mm cold-rolled coil at Tianjin port remained flat, standing at $545/t FOB on April 17, Mysteel assessed.
Source:Mysteel Global
