Chinese domestic steel section prices have decreased slightly during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market are at same price levels compared to last week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,090/mt ($431/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,110/mt ($433/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,190/mt ($445/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the domestic stainless steel market has been at normal levels in the past seven days, while, in order to close more deals, most traders have chosen to slightly reduce their quoted prices. At the same time, stable billet prices have been providing some support for steel section prices. As for the week ahead, with the support from the cost side still strong and since demand may improve, it is believed that steel section prices may indicate a small rebound.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,550 |
0 |
495 |
0 |
| Beijing | 3,400 |
-20 |
474 |
-3 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,500 |
-20 |
488 |
-3 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,260 |
-40 |
454 |
-6 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,680 |
0 |
513 |
0 |
||
| Average price | 3,478 |
-16 |
485 |
-2 |
||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,580 |
0 |
499 |
0 |
| Beijing | 3,390 |
-20 |
472 |
-3 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,430 |
-10 |
478 |
-2 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,230 |
-30 |
450 |
-4 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,670 |
0 |
511 |
0 |
||
| Average price | 3,460 |
-12 |
482 |
-2 |
||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,640 |
30 |
507 |
4 |
| Beijing | 3,510 |
-20 |
489 |
-3 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,610 |
-30 |
503 |
-4 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,340 |
-20 |
466 |
-3 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,870 |
0 |
539 |
0 |
||
| Average price | 3,594 |
-8 |
501 |
-1 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.175