Chinese domestic steel section prices have again softened during the past week.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $613/mt (RMB 4,250/mt). The same product is sold at $548/mt (RMB 3,800/mt) in the Tangshan market and at $628/mt (RMB 4,350/mt) in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $573/mt (RMB 3,970/mt) in the Shanghai market, at $547/mt (RMB 3,790/mt) in Tangshan and at $648/mt (RMB 4,490/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 $582/mt (RMB 4,030/mt), $551/mt (RMB 3,820/mt) and $639/mt (RMB 4,430/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT. Steel section prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the table below.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have declined during the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,480/mt ($502/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,500/mt ($505/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,580/mt ($517/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity has been at low levels in the past week in the local Chinese section steel market, where prices have followed the downward trend of billet prices. In the coming period, it is thought that decreases in steel section prices will just be in line with the declines seen in upstream prices, as during the current offseason decreases in steel section prices are unlikely to spark any improvement in demand. As for the week ahead, it is believed that domestic steel section prices in China may indicate a further slight softening.
Product name |
Spec. |
Category |
City |
Steel plant/origin |
Price (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Angle |
50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm |
Q235 |
Shanghai |
Masteel |
4,250 |
613 |
↓30 |
Beijing |
Shougang |
3,720 |
537 |
↓50 |
|||
Tangshan |
Tangshan |
3,800 |
548 |
↓30 |
|||
Tianjin |
Zhaobo |
3,710 |
535 |
↓50 |
|||
Guangzhou |
Tongsteel |
4,350 |
628 |
↓20 |
|||
Average |
- |
3,966 |
572 |
↓36 |
|||
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm |
Q235 |
Shanghai |
Masteel |
3,970 |
573 |
↓20 |
Beijing |
Shagang |
3,720 |
537 |
↓50 |
|||
Tangshan |
Tangshan |
3,790 |
547 |
↓70 |
|||
Tianjin |
Tianjin |
3,700 |
534 |
↓50 |
|||
Guangzhou |
Guangzhou |
4,490 |
648 |
↓50 |
|||
Average |
- |
3,934 |
568 |
↓48 |
|||
I Beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm |
Q235 |
Shanghai |
Laiwu |
4,030 |
582 |
↓20 |
Beijing |
Laiwu |
3,800 |
548 |
↓50 |
|||
Tangshan |
Tangshan |
3,820 |
551 |
↓100 |
|||
Tianjin |
Haicheng |
3,760 |
543 |
↓50 |
|||
Guangzhou |
Haicheng |
4,430 |
639 |
↓10 |
|||
Average |
- |
3,968 |
573 |
↓46 |
$1 = RMB 6.93