The Chinese domestic steel section market has been mostly stable in the past week, with some slight decreases seen also.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $484/mt. The same product is sold at $440/mt in the Tangshan market and at $503/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $473/mt in the Shanghai market, at $439/mt in Tangshan and at $532/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 $479/mt, $455/mt and $524/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 indicated minor upticks in the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,440/mt ($395/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,470/mt ($402/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 2,560/mt ($416/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese domestic steel section market has been sluggish in the past week, and is unlikely to improve during the current off-season. Although some shortages for certain products have been seen in markets, this only affords limited support for prices. However, the slight rises in billet prices have provided support for the most stable trend of steel section prices in the past week. As for the coming week, it is believed local steel section prices may soften slightly if billet prices weaken.