On MetalMiner’s daily steel price index, strengthening prices ended a two-day flat streak as the steel billet 3-month price moved up by 5.1 percent on Dec. 28, 2012 on the LME to $310.00 per metric ton. The steel billet cash price increased 3.6 percent on the LME to $290.00 per metric ton.
Chinese steel and raw materials prices were flat for the day. The high price of iron ore 58% fines from India hung below $135 per dry metric ton. The price of Chinese HRC steel saw essentially no change for the fifth day in a row. For the fifth day in a row, the price of Chinese coking coal remained essentially flat.
The US HRC futures contract 3-month price was unchanged at $650.00 per short ton. The spot price of the US HRC futures contract held steady at $642.00 per short ton.