Die steel market review in the first half of 2021 and outlook for the second half of 2021

1. A review of the die steel market in the first half of 2021

(1) Review of the market price trend of die steel in the first half of 2021

1. In the first half of the year, the price of the main varieties of die steel moved upwards

Judging from the overall operation in the first half of the year, the domestic mold steel market prices have continued to rise slowly. As of June 30, the average prices of hot rolled H13 (electric furnace) and Cr12MoV were 18,380 yuan/ton and 13,780 yuan/ton, respectively, up 120 yuan/ton and 50 yuan/ton month-on-month, up 4.67% and 5.92% year-on-year , The current market price has basically recovered to the price of September-October 2019.

Figure 1: Trends in the average price of domestic mainstream die steel products since 19 years

Data source: Steel Union data

2. The fluctuation range of the main varieties of die steel

In the first half of 2021, the price of die steel rose slowly. The cumulative increase of H13 was 1,330 yuan/ton, an increase of 7.79% from the beginning of the year; while the increase of Cr12MoV was 860 yuan/ton, an increase of 6.66% from the beginning of the year. In terms of varieties, the fluctuation range of H13 and Cr12MoV is relatively consistent. Because the base price of H13 is higher, the fluctuation range is higher.

Figure 2: Annual fluctuation range of H13 and Cr12MoV

Data source: Steel Union data