Chinese domestic steel section prices have moved downwards during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have declined during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,970/mt ($418/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,990/mt ($421/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,070/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 $498-543/mt FOB as of today, Monday, September 1, have seen slight increases compared to Aug 25.
Chinese steel section prices have showed a downtrend during the past week. Overall trading activity has been weak. Upstream billet prices have fluctuated, which mainly led most traders to follow suit. Meanwhile, buyers maintained their wait and see stance which can hardly give any support to section steel prices. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices in the domestic market may slightly decline.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,440 | -50 | 484 | -6 |
| Beijing | 3,240 | -70 | 456 | -9 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,340 | -90 | 470 | -12 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,100 | -50 | 436 | -6 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,550 | -70 | 500 | -9 | ||
| Average price | 3,334 | -66 | 469 | -9 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,560 | -50 | 501 | -6 |
| Beijing | 3,210 | -70 | 452 | -9 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,330 | -30 | 469 | -4 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,100 | -50 | 436 | -6 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,470 | -50 | 488 | -6 | ||
| Average price | 3,334 | -50 | 469 | -6 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,500 | -50 | 492 | -6 |
| Beijing | 3,300 | -70 | 464 | -9 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,470 | -20 | 488 | -2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,180 | -50 | 447 | -6 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,630 | -20 | 511 | -2 | ||
| Average price | 3,416 | -42 | 481 | -5 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.107
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price ($) | Weekly change ($) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 498 | 2 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 523 | 2 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 503 | 2 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 528 | 2 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 513 | 2 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 513 | 2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 528 | 2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 538 | 2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 533 | 2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 543 | 2 |
