Chinese domestic steel section prices have edged up slightly during the past seven days.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed a slight upward trend during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,970/mt ($419/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,990/mt ($422/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,070/mt ($433/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam steel section offer prices from Shanghai or Tianjin ports stand at $479-524/mt FOB as of today, Monday, November 17, rising by a small margin compared to November 10.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been sluggish due to the off-season and the colder weather in the northern part of China, while prices have edged up supported by the upticks in prices of billet and other raw materials. As for the week ahead, considering the off-season and the approach of colder weather, it is believed that steel section prices may just indicate small fluctuations.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,380 | 20 | 477 | 3 |
| Beijing | 3,150 | 0 | 445 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,280 | 50 | 463 | 7 | ||
| Tianjin | 2,990 | 10 | 422 | 2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,480 | 0 | 491 | 0 | ||
| Average price | 3,256 | 16 | 460 | 3 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,570 | 20 | 504 | 3 |
| Beijing | 3,120 | 0 | 441 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,230 | 20 | 456 | 3 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,000 | 10 | 424 | 2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,420 | 0 | 483 | 0 | ||
| Average price | 3,268 | 10 | 461 | 2 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,440 | 20 | 486 | 3 |
| Beijing | 3,210 | 0 | 453 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,340 | 30 | 472 | 4 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,080 | 10 | 435 | 2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,580 | 0 | 506 | 0 | ||
| Average price | 3,330 | 12 | 470 | 2 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.082
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 479 | 1 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 504 | 1 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 484 | 1 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 509 | 1 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 494 | 1 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 494 | 1 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 509 | 1 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 519 | 1 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 514 | 1 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 524 | 1 |