Chinese HRC, rebar, iron ore and coking-coal prices rose as a second coke-price increase of 100-110 yuan per tonne strengthened cost support. The 62% Fe iron ore index climbed to $99.01 per dmt, while premium hard coking coal CFR China jumped to $280.54 per tonne. Chinese HRC prices also moved higher, despite limited improvement in end-user demand. Rising raw-material costs pushed more steel mills into losses and raised the possibility of production cuts.
