Chinese domestic steel section prices have continued to move on slightly downward trend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have fluctuated with slight upticks during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,920/mt ($404/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,940/mt ($406/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,020/mt ($417/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Chinese steel section prices mostly moved down during the past week. Overall trading activity has been weak. Upstream billet prices slightly rebounded, supporting section steel prices to a certain degree. But due to offseason, most traders choose to reduce their quoted prices in order to close more deals. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may continue to see a declining trend.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,330 | +10 | 464 | +2 |
| Beijing | 3,140 | 0 | 437 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,210 | -30 | 447 | -4 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,010 | -20 | 419 | -2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,370 | -30 | 469 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,212 | -14 | 447 | -2 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,500 | +30 | 488 | +5 |
| Beijing | 3,110 | 0 | 433 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,190 | -10 | 444 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 2,990 | -20 | 416 | -2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,360 | -30 | 468 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,230 | -6 | 450 | 0 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,400 | -20 | 474 | -2 |
| Beijing | 3,220 | 0 | 449 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,330 | 0 | 464 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,080 | -20 | 429 | -2 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,550 | -30 | 494 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,316 | -14 | 462 | -1 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.179