The Chinese domestic steel section market has been mostly stable during the past week, though 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 $435/mt. The same product is sold at $379/mt in the Tangshan market and at $477/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $427/mt in the Shanghai market, at $376/mt in Tangshan and at $500/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 $419/mt, $381/mt and $485/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 softened slightly during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,990/mt ($323/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,020/mt ($328/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 2,110/mt ($343/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Although the Chinese steel section market has been mostly stable in the past week, the slight softness in billet prices has contributed to minor downticks in some local steel section prices. Trading activity in the market has been very slow due to the approach of the Spring Festival holiday (Feb. 18-24). It is believed that after the holiday room will still exist for the further downward movement of domestic steel section prices in China.