Platts China Steel Sentiment Index Falls to Lowest Level since January
China Steel Market Relies on Exports on Weak Domestic Demand, Output Drop Expected
PR Newswire
BEIJING

BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- China's steel sector appears to be relying heavily on the export market in the face of ongoing weak domestic demand, according to the latest Platts China Steel Sentiment Index (Platts CSSI), which showed a headline reading of 38.09 out of a possible 100 points in October.

The October index was down 7.78 points from 45.87 in September, marking its lowest level since January this year. The CSSI reflects expectations of market participants for the month ahead. Similar to a purchasing managers' index, a CSSI reading above 50 indicates an increase/expansion and a reading below 50 indicates a decrease/contraction.

Platts China Steel Sentiment Index - October 2014
(a figure over 50 indicates expectations of an increase; under 50 indicates a decrease)

                            Oct 14       Change       Sep 14         YTD
                                         m-o-m                     average
                                         -----                     -------

    CSSI (Total New Orders)        38.09        -7.78        45.87         51.07
    ----------------------         -----        -----        -----         -----

    New Domestic Orders            35.25        -9.56        44.82         50.94
    -------------------            -----        -----        -----         -----

    New Export Orders              70.96        12.91        58.04         52.54
    -----------------              -----        -----        -----         -----

    Steel Production               35.00        -6.37        41.38         43.80
    ----------------               -----        -----        -----         -----

    Inventories at mills           61.67        15.11        46.55         52.54
    --------------------           -----        -----        -----         -----

    Steel Prices (flats)           26.74        16.11        10.63         41.33
    -------------------            -----        -----        -----         -----

Steel exports from China have seen record high volumes this year and the market expected this trend to continue into October. The new export orders index was recorded at 70.96, up 12.91 from September.

"This latest index shows the extent to which the Chinese steel market is trying to export its way out of trouble," said Paul Bartholomew, Platts managing editor for steel and raw materials. "The steel sector is still battling with overcapacity, the property construction sector - which is a major user of steel - is still in the doldrums, so Chinese mills and traders are increasingly looking offshore for customers," he said.

With iron ore producers already coping with low prices, China's steel market participants are expecting crude steel production to fall further over the next month. The reading of 35.00 for steel production in October was down 6.37 points from September, and was the fourth consecutive month of sub-50 readings, indicating that participants predicted output would fall.

"Expectations of lower steel production can be attributed in part to the week-long holiday in China at the start of October, but output tends to come off slightly in the final quarter," Bartholomew said. "It could put iron ore under more pressure until the pick-up in demand the market typically gets towards the end of the year."

The latest CSSI indicates the industry is largely expecting a drop-off in domestic orders with an index reading of just 35.25 points, 9.56 lower than the previous month. The outlook for steel prices improved to 26.74 in October - compared with 10.63 in September.

The monthly Platts CSSI is based on a survey of approximately 50 to 75 China-based market participants including traders, stockists and steel mill operators. The survey of month-ahead sentiment is conducted during the last full working week of each month, with the results published via press release and Platts' products and services before the 10th of the next month. Platts began tracking steel sector sentiment in China in May 2013. The Platts China Steel Sentiment Index survey plays no role in Platts' formal price assessment processes.

For more information about steel and metals visit the website at www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial, a financial intelligence company, is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity markets. Iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 18,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

 

SOURCE: Platts

 

Platts China Steel Sentiment Index Falls to Lowest Level since January

China Steel Market Relies on Exports on Weak Domestic Demand, Output Drop Expected

PR Newswire

BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- China's steel sector appears to be relying heavily on the export market in the face of ongoing weak domestic demand, according to the latest Platts China Steel Sentiment Index (Platts CSSI), which showed a headline reading of 38.09 out of a possible 100 points in October.

The October index was down 7.78 points from 45.87 in September, marking its lowest level since January this year. The CSSI reflects expectations of market participants for the month ahead. Similar to a purchasing managers' index, a CSSI reading above 50 indicates an increase/expansion and a reading below 50 indicates a decrease/contraction.

Platts China Steel Sentiment Index – October 2014
(a figure over 50 indicates expectations of an increase; under 50 indicates a decrease)

 

Oct 14

Change  
m-o-m

Sep 14

YTD
average

CSSI (Total New Orders)

38.09

-7.78

45.87

51.07

New Domestic Orders

35.25

-9.56

44.82

50.94

New Export Orders

70.96

12.91

58.04

52.54

Steel Production

35.00

-6.37

41.38

43.80

Inventories at mills

61.67

15.11

46.55

52.54

Steel Prices (flats)

26.74

16.11

10.63

41.33

Steel exports from China have seen record high volumes this year and the market expected this trend to continue into October. The new export orders index was recorded at 70.96, up 12.91 from September.

"This latest index shows the extent to which the Chinese steel market is trying to export its way out of trouble," said Paul Bartholomew, Platts managing editor for steel and raw materials. "The steel sector is still battling with overcapacity, the property construction sector – which is a major user of steel – is still in the doldrums, so Chinese mills and traders are increasingly looking offshore for customers," he said.

With iron ore producers already coping with low prices, China's steel market participants are expecting crude steel production to fall further over the next month. The reading of 35.00 for steel production in October was down 6.37 points from September, and was the fourth consecutive month of sub-50 readings, indicating that participants predicted output would fall.

"Expectations of lower steel production can be attributed in part to the week-long holiday in China at the start of October, but output tends to come off slightly in the final quarter," Bartholomew said. "It could put iron ore under more pressure until the pick-up in demand the market typically gets towards the end of the year."

The latest CSSI indicates the industry is largely expecting a drop-off in domestic orders with an index reading of just 35.25 points, 9.56 lower than the previous month. The outlook for steel prices improved to 26.74 in October – compared with 10.63 in September.

The monthly Platts CSSI is based on a survey of approximately 50 to 75 China-based market participants including traders, stockists and steel mill operators. The survey of month-ahead sentiment is conducted during the last full working week of each month, with the results published via press release and Platts' products and services before the 10th of the next month. Platts began tracking steel sector sentiment in China in May 2013. The Platts China Steel Sentiment Index survey plays no role in Platts' formal price assessment processes.

For more information about steel and metals visit the website at www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial, a financial intelligence company, is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity markets. Iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 18,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

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