The Chinese domestic steel section market has continued to indicate a rising 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 $492/mt. The same product is sold at $460/mt in the Tangshan market and at $508/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $481/mt in the Shanghai market, at $452/mt in Tangshan and at $534/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 $481/mt, $473/mt and $527/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 moved on a upward trend over the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,540/mt ($415/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,570/mt ($420/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 2,660/mt ($435/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
The Chinese domestic steel section market has followed an upward trend during the past seven days, with relatively larger price increases seen in the central and northern regions of China. Overall trading activity has improved and is at decent levels but is still somewhat slower than traders had been expecting. The rise in billet prices has been the main factor supporting the upward movement of domestic steel section prices, while production cuts in northern China due to pollution problems have also been a contributing factor. It is believed that small fluctuations in prices may be seen in the coming week, while the upward trend of prices may come to an end.