China's Wuhan Steel, Anshan Steel raise Sept prices

BEIJING Aug 17 (Reuters) - Two of China's biggest steel makers, Wuhan Iron and Steel Group and Anshan Iron and Steel Group, have announced price hikes for next month deliveries, anticipating stronger demand, they said.

Wuhan Iron and Steel (600005.SS), China's third-biggest mill, will increase the prices of most of its products by 200-800 yuan ($29.40-$117.60) per tonne, it said late on Monday.

Anshan Iron and Steel (0347.HK) (000898.SZ), the country's fourth biggest steel maker, said it would raise prices for September delivery by 350-1,000 yuan.

Earlier on Monday, Baosteel (600019.SS) announced it would keep the prices of its hot- and cold-rolled steel unchanged in September, but analysts suggested it would reduce discounts to major customers. [ID:nTOE67F05G]

Last week, Hebei Iron and Steel, which overtook Baosteel to become the country's biggest steel mill last year, announced an immediate price increase of up to 300 yuan per tonne for its major products. [ID:nTOE679070]

Steel prices on the Chinese spot market began a steep decline at the end of April, with construction steel in Shanghai falling around 15 percent to 3,580 yuan per tonne by the middle of July.

They have rebounded by around 10 percent since, ending last week at 3,940 yuan per tonne. [ID:nTOE67B05E]

(Reporting by David Stanway, Editing by Ken Wills)