The Chinese steel section market has indicated a clear decline during the past week, while activity has remained on the sluggish side.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $679/mt. The same product is sold at $625/mt in the Tangshan market and at $706/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $683/mt in the Shanghai market, at $632/mt in Tangshan and at $714/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 $686/mt, $649/mt and $690/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Average steel section prices in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese market have indicated a softening during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,670/mt ($583/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,700/mt ($585/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is around RMB 3,790/mt ($605/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Reductions in mills' quoted prices for steel sections have failed to boost downstream demand, while prices of steel billet have softened further. Accordingly, steel section prices in China do not have any support for now and observers believe the downtrend in the market will continue in the coming week as well.