During the past week, the Chinese steel section market has continued to rise slightly in most regions. Since some domestic mills have increased their ex-works prices for steel sections, the costs of buying new supplies have risen. In addition, affected by the complex domestic and international economic environment, the domestic market faces strong pressure from inflation. It is expected that steel section prices in China will fluctuate upwards in the coming week.
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 |
4,676 |
+40 |
713 |
+$6 |
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m |
Q235 |
4,792 |
+38 |
730 |
+$6 |
I-beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m |
Q235 |
4,820 |
+10 |
735 |
+$2 |
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at RMB 4,820/mt ($735/mt). The same product is sold at RMB 4,750/mt ($724/mt) in the Tangshan market and at RMB 4,860/mt ($741/mt) in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at RMB 4,800/mt ($732/mt) in the Shanghai market, at RMB 4,800/mt ($732/mt) in Tangshan and at RMB 4,900/mt ($747/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 RMB 4,850/mt ($739/mt), RMB 4,900/mt ($747/mt) and RMB 4,850/mt ($739/mt). The above prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
As for billet, prices in the Tangshan market have risen by RMB 50-100/mt ($7-15/mt) week on week. As of April 18, prices of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet are at RMB 4,470/mt ($681/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 4,500/mt ($686/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at RMB 4,590/mt ($700/mt). All prices are ex-works with 17 percent VAT included.
Over the past week, prices of I-beam, angles and channels have continued to move up in China. Large and medium-sized steel section prices have moved up in line with the increased prices of rebar, hot rolled coils and other finished steel products, coupled with producers' increased ex-works prices for steel sections. However, traders state that transaction activity is not great. Demand is weak in southern China, where downstream users are maintaining a wait-and-see stance. Meanwhile, traders' inventories are at relatively low levels. In northern China, market transaction volumes are not bad, with many traders purchasing goods, though there are fewer transactions from downstream users. In general, supported by high costs, steel section prices in China are expected to fluctuate upward in the coming week.