During the past week, large and medium-sized Chinese steel mills made significant increases to prices of I-beam, angles, channels and H-beam. Due to the high levels of billet prices and increasing costs, the prices of finished products are becoming much higher.
Product Name |
Specification |
Category |
Average Price (RMB/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly change ($/mt) |
Angle |
50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m |
Q235 |
4,298 |
+190 |
630 |
+28 |
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m |
Q235 |
4,468 |
+250 |
655 |
+37 |
I Beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m |
Q235 |
4,476 |
+102 |
656 |
+15 |
Currently, the prices of 5# angle steel in Shanghai, Tangshan and Guangzhou are standing at RMB 4,430/mt ($650/mt), RMB 4,450/mt ($652/mt) and RMB 4,400/mt ($645/mt) respectively. The prices of 25# channel steel in the respective regions mentioned above are RMB 4,480/mt ($657/mt), RMB 4,450/mt ($652/mt and RMB 4,600/mt ($674/mt). As for I-beam, the respective prices are at levels of RMB 4,430/mt ($650/mt), RMB 4,640/mt ($680/mt) and RMB 4,480/mt ($657/mt). All these prices include tax.
On the billet side, the ex-factory prices of billet in the Tangshan market this week are up by RMB 250/mt ($37/mt) compared with last week. At present, the mainstream prices of 150 mm x 150 mm common carbon billet are at RMB 4,150/mt ($609/mt), prices of 165 mm x 165 mm common carbon billet are at RMB 4,180/mt ($613/mt), while prices of low alloy billet stand at RMB 4,270/mt ($626/mt). All prices include tax.
China's domestic section steel prices have climbed up dramatically on the back of rising billet prices, even though the general transaction volume has remained at normal levels. Currently, most Chinese section steel mills are operating at normal production levels. Some market players consider that a cautious approach to the market should be adopted, given the large increase already seen in prices. Meanwhile, other players are more confident and think that market prices will continue to rise in the coming period.
Domestic producer Masteel, based in Anhui Province, announced its prices for mid-April (April 11-April 20), making an upward adjustment of RMB 300-470/mt ($44-69/mt) for section steel. On April 11, Shandong Province-based Laiwu Steel raised its prices for I-beam and channels by RMB 120/mt ($18/mt).