The domestic steel section market in China has continued its slight downward trend during the past week.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $605/mt. The same product is sold at $555/mt in the Tangshan market and at $602/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $594/mt in the Shanghai market, at $553/mt in Tangshan and at $634/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 $621/mt, $597/mt and $623/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Average steel section prices in the main markets in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese market have softened in the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,120/mt ($503/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,150/mt ($508mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is around RMB 3,240/mt ($523mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
The softening of billet prices in China has contributed to the weakening of the domestic steel section market over the past week. In addition, low demand and trading volumes in the steel section market have caused mills to reduce their quoted prices. China's steel section market is also expected to follow a soft trend in the coming week.