Baosteel Group has adjusted up prices for its products in the third quarter, except the price of plates for earthquake-affected areas, according to China Securities Journal.

   Zhou Tao, an analyst of SINOLINK Securities, expected the rise would be around 15 percent in view of Baosteel's previous price policy.

   Hu Hao, an analyst of Central China Securities, revealed that the prices of major steels would increase 300-600 yuan/ton.

   Actually, the price adjustment of the China's biggest steel group is within the market expectation because Baosteel's high value-added products require higher prices; the continuously rising costs upstream added costs to the whole industry; China's steel enterprises have lifted factory prices; and the world's major steel companies have already raised prime costs for the third quarter.

   Analysts reckoned the adjustment should offset raised costs, but Baosteel's pricing would not affect China's market prices.