The Chinese domestic steel section market has been mostly stable during the past week, but with some slight decreases in prices also seen.
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 $363/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 $373/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, $373/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 in the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,940/mt ($316/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,970/mt ($320/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 2,060/mt ($335/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
The Chinese domestic steel section market moved on a sideways trend during the recent holiday (Feb. 18-24), while slight downticks in prices have been seen in some parts of the country after the holiday. Overall trading activity is still on the scarce side. It is believed that the slight decreases seen have mainly been due to the softness of billet prices and the increase in supply volumes after the holiday. As for the coming week, most traders are pessimistic about the prospects for the market, while it is thought that prices may continue to be characterized by some softness.