Steel Price in the Market on December 29, 2025

Rebar: On December 29, the average price of 20mm Grade III seismic-resistant rebar in 31 major cities across China was 3,325 yuan per ton, up 9 yuan per ton from the previous trading day. Currently, steel mills maintain relatively decent profits, with some planning to resume production after the New Year, indicating potential for short-term output recovery. In terms of consumption, the market remains supported by demand in the southern regions, while the northern areas enter a slack season, with further consumption decline expected in the near future.

Hot-rolled coil: On December 29, the average price of 4.75mm hot-rolled coil in 24 major cities across the country was 3,295 yuan per ton, up 7 yuan per ton from the previous trading day. From a macroeconomic perspective, more proactive fiscal policies will continue to be implemented in 2026, providing certain support for capital in finished steel products. In terms of demand, the traditional off-season for consumption has led to significant order-taking pressure on steel mills. Steel mills have successively announced winter storage policies, with some regions already initiating small-scale operations, though overall willingness remains weak.

Cold-rolled coil: On December 29, the average price of 1.0mm cold-rolled coil in 24 major cities across the country was 3,861 yuan/ton, down 2 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. Some markets intensified sales efforts, with slightly improved transaction volume as prices were lowered to boost demand. According to feedback from some traders, inventory levels rose marginally by month-end. To reduce stockpiles, traders often implemented covert price cuts to accelerate shipments. Coupled with downstream buyers' "buying on the rise but not on the fall" mentality and reduced purchases over the weekend, overall market transactions on December 29 performed well.

Thick Plate: On December 29, the average price of 20mm common plates in 24 major cities across the country was 3,383 yuan/ton, down 1 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. Overall trading volume on the 29th was average, with high inventory levels in the north and weakening cost support. Inventory pressure in East China was moderate, though pricing resilience remained. On the downstream side, northern regions experienced low temperatures while southern areas rushed to complete projects, resulting in insufficient orders for infrastructure and manufacturing. End-users primarily made small, demand-driven purchases without concentrated restocking.