The sharp uptrend in global steel market prices has been slowing recently, with buyers preferring to wait and see where prices will go.

China Baowu Steel Group launched 10 major projects in late December in Baowu Wusong Park in Shanghai's Baoshan district.

A slew of ministry-level departments, including those responsible for the environment, earthquake warnings, coal mines and industries, have responded recently to matters of public concern.

China's benchmark power coal price rose slightly during the past week.

Exceptionally cold weather and low nuclear availability are likely to have lifted Japanese coal-fired generation to at least a four-year high in December.

Russia's government has increased the country's duty on ferrous scrap exports, effective from the end of this month.

Turkish coal-fired power output is likely to remain firm in the first quarter as coal units have extended their price advantage against gas-fired plants.

Posco on 16 December secured only about 1,000t of the material, while it planned purchase 5,244t for January delivery.