From the Field to the Dashboard – Built by Experts, for Experts.

Discover What's Really Happening in the Steel Industry

Use the AI-powered search engine to analyze production activity, market trends, and news faster than ever before.

Try the Free AI Search Engine

Steel Market Update: Robust Growth and Price Stability in Asia as Plant Activity Surges

The steel market in Asia is exhibiting very positive trends, particularly in China, where local rebar prices have reported considerable increases. As noted in NBS: Local Chinese rebar prices up 0.9 percent in late November 2025, and further echoed by MOC: Average rebar price in China up 0.4 percent in November 24-30, the average finished steel prices have experienced upward adjustments, aligning with parallel increases in plant activity levels observed via satellite data.

Fujian Quanzhou Minguang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. has maintained high activity levels, peaking at 63% throughout this period, however, starting from October a slight drop in mean activity to 23% suggests a need for closer monitoring in conjunction with rising rebar prices reported by the MOC. This could indicate potential supply fluctuations despite the demand increase.

Guangdong Yuebei United Steel Co., Ltd. has shown a steady decrease in activity, dropping to 47% by late October, a trend that contradicts price growth reported, thus signaling potential challenges in meeting local demand, especially for finished rolled products, which includes rebar highlighted in the NBS report.

In contrast, the Solb Steel Jizan plant in Saudi Arabia has seen relatively stable activity levels (ranging from 75% to 80% over recent months). The plant’s strong performance could support competitive pricing in the region and mitigate any potential supply shortfalls from its Asian counterparts.

Procurement actions for steel buyers should emphasize leveraging the current price stability while being cognizant of potential supply constraints, especially from Guangdong Yuebei as their productivity metrics may hinder fulfillment of anticipated orders. It is advisable to forecast demand accurately, particularly in light of the upward price trends noted in recent reports, and to secure contracts now before potential upward price pressure might occur.

In summary, the positive market sentiment is reinforced by the increase in observed activity but accompanied by notable discrepancies between productivity and pricing dynamics; hence, strategic procurement planning is essential to navigate the evolving landscape effectively.