The Chinese section steel market has seen a slight rise during the past week, when many market players were absent due to the Spring Festival.
Product name |
Specification |
Category |
Average price (RMB/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Angle |
50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m |
Q235 |
3,694 |
+30 |
542 |
+4 |
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m |
Q235 |
3,750 |
+44 |
550 |
+6 |
I Beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m |
Q235 |
3,800 |
+16 |
557 |
+2 |
Domestic section steel producers have gradually resumed their operations starting from February 20, with most of them keeping their quotations unchanged. Some traders, on the other hand, have raised their quotation because of the high arrival costs.
In its price policy for March, Maanshan Steel has decided to maintain the same base price level as in February.
On the billet side, at present the mainstream market prices of 150 mm x 150 mm common carbon billet are at RMB 3,320 ($487/mt, tax-included), with the tax-excluded prices at RMB 3,210/mt ($471/mt). 165 mm x 165 mm common carbon billet is now offered at RMB 3,350/mt ($491/mt, tax-included), and the prices of low-alloy billet stand at RMB 3,440/mt ($504/mt).
As regards inventory, in Shanghai inventory of beams, angles and channels increased by 10,000 mt, with most stocks in this region consisting of small-sized angles from Maanshan Steel, Xutang Steel and Tianjin Jiangtian Steel Co. and of large-sized beams from Laiwu Steel, Jinxi Steel and Rizhao Steel.