Steel Price in the Market on March 30, 2026

Rebar: On March 30, the average price of 20mm Grade III seismic rebar in 31 major cities across China was 3,336 yuan per ton, up 12 yuan per ton from the previous trading day. In the short term, cost-side support remains solid, and declining inventories provide a bottoming effect. However, it will take time for spot demand to fully recover. Traders are focusing on stabilizing prices and accelerating inventory reduction, lacking strong momentum for significant price increases.

Hot-rolled coil: On March 30, the average price of 4.75mm hot-rolled coil in 24 major cities across China was 3,330 yuan/ton, up 8 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. Amid geopolitical conflicts, oil and gas supply shortages triggered market concerns about coal substitution effects, driving synchronized price increases in steelmaking raw materials such as coal coke and ferroalloys, further supporting costs. On the demand side, downstream markets resumed operations, with steel end-use demand steadily recovering. Inventories decreased month-on-month, while hot-rolled coil demand showed month-on-month growth.

Cold-rolled coil: On March 30, the average price of 1.0mm cold-rolled coil in 24 major cities across the country was 3,830 yuan per ton, remaining unchanged from the previous trading session. According to feedback from some traders, current inventory levels have slightly increased. To reduce stockpiles, many traders are implementing covert price reductions to expedite shipments. Additionally, driven by downstream buyers' "buying on the rise but not on the fall" mentality and the limited purchasing activity over the weekend, the overall market transaction volume on March 30 performed well.

Thick Plate: On March 30, the average price of 20mm common plates in 24 major cities across China was 3,417 yuan/ton, up 7 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. Demand in the northern market has gradually recovered, with improved trading sentiment and moderate transaction volumes. High inventory levels persist in the southern region, while demand remains sluggish. Regarding steel mills, the expected operating rate this week is expected to remain flat compared to last week, with a slight increase in production. Currently, industries such as mechanical manufacturing, construction machinery, and steel structures are accelerating their resumption of operations, leading to active restocking for rigid demand; however, downstream demand awaits further release.