Chinese domestic steel section prices have remained stable with slight declines during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have moved down during past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,940/mt ($418/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,960/mt ($421/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,040/mt ($432/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam section steel offer prices from Shanghai or Tianjin ports stand at $482-527/mt FOB as of today, Monday, December 29, have showed a slight upward trend compared to December 22.
Chinese steel section prices have registered a stable trend during the past week. Overall trading activity has been weak. Upstream billet prices have indicated a downward trend and demand remained weak which led certain traders to choose to decrease their quoted prices slightly. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may see small fluctuations.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,350 | -40 | 476 | -4 |
| Beijing | 3,160 | -20 | 449 | -1 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,250 | -20 | 462 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,020 | 0 | 429 | 1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,510 | 0 | 499 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,258 | -16 | 463 | -1 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,470 | -70 | 493 | -8 |
| Beijing | 3,130 | -20 | 445 | -1 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,240 | -10 | 461 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,030 | 0 | 431 | 1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,400 | 0 | 483 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,254 | -20 | 463 | -1 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,390 | -40 | 482 | -4 |
| Beijing | 3,210 | -20 | 456 | -1 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,330 | 0 | 473 | 2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,110 | 0 | 442 | 2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,560 | 0 | 506 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,320 | -12 | 472 | -0 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.033
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 482 | 4 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 507 | 4 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 487 | 4 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 512 | 4 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 497 | 4 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 497 | 4 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 512 | 4 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 522 | 4 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 517 | 4 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 527 | 4 |