[Ferro-Alloys.com] Last week, most of the cored wires products have seen price rise. The market condition seemed get back to normal. But actually market demand for some products remains weak; still the market needs wait and see.

Material: the ex-work price of steel strip in the major producing areas Hebei and Shandong has increased RMB300-400/mt. Tangshan Delong Steel Co., Ltd and Hebei Tianzhu Steel Group Co., Ltd have jointly raised the agreement user guidance price of steel strip in April. What is more, according to the analysis by the insiders, the national policy of production cuts and the forthcoming World Expo Tangshan may also result in the price rise of steel strip.

Product: the price of FeCa cored wires has increased steadily. But maybe the price rise mainly relies on the cost advantage rather than the market demand. Due to the market recession, many cored wires producers in Maanshan and Anayang and Hebei temporarily ceased producing cored wires.

Calcium products, Ca cored wires; especially the seamless Ca cored wires currently embrace the market pick up.

The export of seamless Ca cored wires through traders has been stable. Domestic purchase mainly from An Steel Group Corporation, Rizhao Steel Holding Group Co.,Ltd and Ma Steel and other steel mills.

Hebei Longsheng Metals﹠Minerals Co.,Ltd is specialized in foreign trade. The export volume in March was above 80 mt, which had been stable and exported to Japan, Korea, Europe and America.

Operation: the operation state of the companies is partially satisfactory and partially semi shutdown. The whole state remains weak.

The domestic and export sales volume of FeCa cored wires of Anyang Tiefa Metallurgy Refractory Co.,Ltd in March was totally 300 mt. The foreign orders are inspiring.

Xixia Jingu Metallurgy Materials Co., Ltd ceased the production of cored wires temporarily. Maanshan Songli Metallurgy Furnace Co., Ltd almost stop producing FeCa cored wires and SiCa cored wires.

Based on what mentioned above, the price rise of many product mainly depends on the cost advantage rather than the market demand, the domestic market demand still remains weak, the overseas market may bring new chances.  

• [Editor:Yang Xue Jiao ]