The Chinese domestic steel section market has on average indicated a slight downtrend in the past week, though minor upticks have also been observed in prices of certain products.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $332/mt. The same product is sold at $283/mt in the Tangshan market and at $377/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $320/mt in the Shanghai market, at $278/mt in Tangshan and at $366/mt in the Guangzhou market. In the Shanghai, Tangshan and Guangzhou markets, 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m I-beam prices stand respectively at $342/mt, $301/mt and $392/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Steel section prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese domestic market have been almost stable during the past seven days, with just some very slight decreases seen. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,560/mt ($244/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,580/mt ($247/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,670/mt ($261/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
The greater stability of the billet market has provided support for Chinese domestic steel section prices during the past week, while traders are now hoping to see a rebound in prices. Trading activity has improved compared to the previous week but is still weak overall. As for the coming week, just minor fluctuations are expected to be seen in prices in the local Chinese steel section market.
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,100 | 328 | ↓50 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 1,880 | 294 | ↓20 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,790 | 280 | 20 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,040 | 319 | ↓30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,380 | 372 | 0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,038 | 318 | ↓16 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,020 | 316 | ↓80 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 1,930 | 302 | ↓90 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,760 | 275 | 10 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 1,800 | 281 | ↓30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,310 | 361 | ↓20 | |||
| Average | - | 1,964 | 307 | ↓42 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,160 | 338 | ↓20 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 1,960 | 306 | ↓70 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,900 | 297 | 40 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 1,990 | 311 | 30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,480 | 388 | 0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,098 | 328 | ↓4 |
The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.40