Chinese domestic steel section market mostly follows a stable trend

Chinese domestic steel section prices have mostly followed a stable 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 $695/mt (RMB 4,380/mt). The same product is sold at $651/mt (RMB 4,100/mt) in the Tangshan market and at $726/mt (RMB 4,590/mt) in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $689/mt (RMB 4,340/mt) in the Shanghai market, at $646/mt (RMB 4,070/mt) in Tangshan and at $744/mt (RMB 4,690/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 $675/mt (RMB 4,250/mt), $644/mt (RMB 4,060/mt) and $733/mt (RMB 4,620/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 of the semi-finished product in the Chinese domestic market have softened slightly during the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,610/mt ($573/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,630/mt ($576/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,730/mt ($592/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.

Chinese steel section prices have mostly moved sideways in the past week, though some slight increases have also been observed, caused by low inventory. Trading activity is at very low levels due to the approach of the holiday. The local Chinese steel section market is expected to maintain a stable trend before and during the holiday, while it is believed that prices may increase after the holiday.

$1 = RMB 6.33