Posted on 10 Feb 2026

Hot-rolled coil (HRC) production among the 37 Chinese steelmakers regularly surveyed by Mysteel dipped by a negligible 500 tonnes on week to remain largely stable at 3.09 million tonnes during January 29-February 4, the latest survey results showed. This was 4.6% lower on year, Mysteel Global noted.

The HRC rolling capacity utilization rate among the sampled mills inched down by 0.02 percentage point on week to average 78.98% during the survey period, while their average operational rates stayed unchanged for the second straight week at 78.13%, according to the survey findings.

With Chinese New Year (CNY) only one week away, production activity at many coil coating works and other HRC end users had ground to a halt, with workers also taking leave to start their holidays. As a result, demand for hot coils shrank further, causing the stocks of coils held by both traders and mills to mount slightly during the survey week.

By February 5, hot coil inventories at the 194 commercial warehouses in the 55 Chinese cities Mysteel monitors had ended their three-week decline to rise by a small 1.4% or 53,600 tonnes on week to 3.81 million tonnes. Similarly, HRC stocks held by the surveyed mills had also moved up by 1.9% or 15,000 tonnes on week to sit slightly higher at 787,500 tonnes as of the same day.

With trading slowing down further this week as more market participants shutter their businesses and start CNY celebrations, hot coil prices are expected to stay rangebound on week, with limited downside-room going forward, market sources predicted.

On February 6, Mysteel assessed the national price for Q235 4.75mm hot coils at Yuan 3,284/tonne ($474/t) including the 13% VAT, down by Yuan 15/t or 0.45% on week.

In parallel, the most traded HRC contract for May delivery on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed the daytime trading session at Yuan 3,251/t last Friday, lower by Yuan 51/t or 1.5% from the previous week's settlement price.

Source:Mysteel Global

The South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) was incorporated in 1971 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). It is registered as a limited company in the Republic of Singapore. Previously in Singapore and the Manila, the Secretariat is now permanently based in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

SEAISI is a technical institute and its main objective is to promote the iron and steel industry in the South East Asia region. It achieves its objectives by facilitating technology transfer from around the world, especially from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. SEAISI organizes a major international conference and exhibition every year and amongst its publications are the Statistical Year Book and the Monthly ASEAN Iron & Steel Journal.

SEAISI enjoys a large membership base with members coming from all parts of the world, including leading steel companies and material suppliers and equipment suppliers.

Address

No. 2E, 5th Floor, Block 2, Worldwide Business Park, Jalan Tinju 13/50,

40675 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Contact

Tel : +60 3 5519 1102

Fax : +60 3 5519 1159

Email

seaisi@seaisi.org

© 2026 SEAISI SITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVVED