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    Overseas

    Chinese Preparing for New Year Holiday, New Banking Regulations

    Written by John Packard


    The Chinese government is changing the accounting procedures at both banks and the companies they loan money to, saying there can no longer be two sets of books.

    Steel Market Update has learned from one of our trading sources inside of China that the latest hot rolled price, Ex-Works (FOB Mill) for ASTM A36 in 2.75 mm thickness (.1008”), is being priced at $520-$530 per metric ton ($472 per net ton). Billet prices are being quoted at the same levels, only FOB Stowed for simple SS400 or Q235 Grades. However, the Chinese mills do not want to sell billets right now as they can sell wire rod or rebar at higher margins than billets.

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    Price on Trade: Steel’s zero-sum game

    During the first three quarters of 2026, finished steel imports from South Korea increased 50.8% compared with the same period in 2025. Imports from Vietnam increased 23.4%, imports from Turkey increased 49.5%, and imports from India increased 29.5%. Those are not marginal increases. They are substantial import surges, especially in a US market where apparent domestic consumption has bounced around but has not grown since 2017. More importantly, these import surges are arriving at lower average unit values (AUVs).