Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia continued to edge up over the past week amid higher offers from some sellers and costlier nickel.
But trading activity has begun to slow down with Chinese participants in a holiday mood ahead of the Lunar New Year, sources said on Wednesday January 23.Fastmarkets MB's import price assessment for 304 stainless 2mm trimmed cold-rolled coil in East Asia was $1,880-1,990 per tonne cif for the week to Wednesday, widening upward by $20 per tonne from a week earlier.Fastmarkets MB's import price assessment for 304 stainless trimmed hot-rolled coil in the same region was $1,770-1,850 per tonne cif for the same period, up $10-20 per tonne week on week."Market prices are creeping up a little,...