- Mild steel angle prices were volatile but broadly stable in H1 2026, with rising costs early on offset by weak construction demand and high inventories.
- Raw material costs rose in January on tighter nickel ore availability, while higher freight costs from Middle East disruption added to supply chain expenses.
- Construction, fabrication and capital goods buyers purchased cautiously, as a slow property sector limited restocking, though site resumptions improved demand from March.
Mild steel angle prices moved in a narrow but uneven range during the first half of 2026. In January, higher raw material costs supported prices, but demand weakened during the seasonal slowdown. February brought more pressure, as construction activity stayed limited and inventories rose sharply due to slow consumption. Demand improved gradually in March as construction sites reopened, but high stocks and cautious buying limited any recovery. Export disruptions linked to the Iran war also affected the market. China’s exports to Persian Gulf nations, which make up 11.72% of its total steel exports, faced shipping delays and higher freight costs, leaving more material in the domestic market and weighing on prices. In the second quarter, Chinese values edged slightly higher, though steady export availability from mills and weak construction-linked consumption limited gains, as the property slowdown reduced restocking. In India, mild steel angle prices eased slightly, though domestic mills kept relatively firm realisations as controlled imports and steady demand from construction and capital goods supported the market.