BEIJING — Market prices of the means of production rose 0.5 percent last week from the previous week, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed on July 14.

During the week from July 6 to 12, the prices of non-ferrous metals increased slightly, with the prices of zinc, copper and aluminum up 3.4 percent, 2.5 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.

The prices of steel rose slightly with the prices of the hot-rolled strip up 0.6 percent, while the prices of coal increased marginally with steam coal prices edging up 0.4 percent.

Price changes of rubber were mixed, with natural rubber prices up 0.4 percent and synthetic rubber down 0.3 percent.

The prices of basic chemical raw materials saw fluctuations, with sulphuric acid prices up 0.3 percent and methanol up 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, chemical fertilizer prices decreased slightly.