🏭 Industry Trends & New Product Applications
Beyond pricing, mills are also diversifying in specifications and forms, which could impact your material selection:
Breakthrough in Large-Spec Round Bars: Companies like Tiangang Steel and Hangang have recently successfully trial-rolled 45# round bars of Φ90mm and above, targeting large shaft and hot forging markets, filling a previous production gap in large specifications.
Form Expansion: Chongqing Iron & Steel developed a new 45 steel hot coil product suitable for hardware manufacturing, with mechanical properties improved by about 10% compared to traditional products, offering a new sheet option for hardware processing.
Demand for Cold-Drawn Material: Cold-drawn 45# round bars, favored for high dimensional accuracy, see steady demand in hydraulic piston rods and precision shafts. Related market demand still grew by nearly 7% in 2025.
💡 Procurement & Business Advice
If you are a buyer: The Hangzhou market currently has ample supply with minimal price volatility. Adopting a small-batch, high-frequency procurement strategy based on immediate needs is recommended. There is no need for large-scale stockpiling.
If you are a trader: Focus on the recovery of orders from downstream machinery manufacturing and automotive parts. Currently, inventory digestion is slow, so the sales side should guard against working capital pressure.
If you're interested in specific specifications (e.g., thin sheet, small round bars) or particular application scenarios (e.g., mold steel substitution), please provide more details, and I can offer more targeted insights.