Issuing agency: China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry
Column: Statistics
source: https://www.cansi.org.cn/cms/document/15741.html
In just a few days after the Spring Festival holiday of the Year of the Ox, the domestic steel market has already heard of price increases. According to statistics from the China Iron and Steel Industry Association, the plate index increased by 2.93% month-on-month at the end of February, reaching 131.17 points, exceeding the 129.14 points at the end of December 2020, setting a new high in nearly 3 years! Expert analysis believes that the current round of steel price increases is not only due to the early resumption of work and production of various construction projects and enterprises, which has released steel demand, but also more driven by cost. Especially in terms of iron ore, the CIF price of imported 62% fine ore has exceeded 170 US dollars / ton, setting a new high in the past 10 years. In terms of coal, although the prices of coking coal and coke have fallen sharply recently, they are still at high levels.
The rapid rise in domestic steel prices has driven up the price of shipbuilding plates. According to statistics from the China Shipbuilding Industry Association, at the end of February 2021, the price of 6mm ship plates was 5,470 yuan/ton, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%; the price of 20mm ship plates was 5,090 yuan/ton, a year-on-year increase of 20.0%. Contrary to the rapid rise in steel prices, the Clarkson new ship price index has been in a long-term downturn. At the end of January, the Clarkson new ship price index was only 127 points. Driven by cost growth, it rose 1 point month-on-month.
Currently, affected by many factors, experts predict that steel prices will be difficult to fall significantly in 2021, and will remain high and volatile throughout the year. Shipbuilding companies should attach great importance to and strengthen cost control, and take multiple measures to reduce the adverse impact of rising steel prices on corporate development.