Chinese domestic steel section prices have indicated a stable or slightly upward trend during the past seven days.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have followed a slight uptrend during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,020/mt ($440/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,040/mt ($443/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,120/mt ($455/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam steel section offer prices from the ports of Shanghai or Tianjin stand at $512-547/mt FOB as of today, Monday, April 27, up slightly compared to April 20.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese domestic steel section market has improved during the past week due to the proximity of the Labor Day holiday (May 1-5) and is currently considered to be at normal levels. Some prices have risen by small margins due to slight upticks in billet prices, while some traders have chosen to keep their quoted prices stable in order to close more deals. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may fluctuate by small margins.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,470 | 40 | 506 | 6 |
| Beijing | 3,260 | 20 | 475 | 3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,310 | 0 | 483 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,110 | 0 | 453 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,500 | 10 | 510 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,330 | 14 | 486 | 3 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,490 | 20 | 509 | 3 |
| Beijing | 3,250 | 20 | 474 | 3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,290 | 0 | 480 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,100 | 0 | 452 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,530 | 10 | 515 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,332 | 10 | 486 | 2 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,510 | 40 | 512 | 6 |
| Beijing | 3,320 | 20 | 484 | 3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,420 | 10 | 499 | 2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,180 | 0 | 464 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,530 | 0 | 515 | 1 | ||
| Average price | 3,392 | 14 | 495 | 3 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 6.858
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 512 | 3 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 537 | 3 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 517 | 3 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 542 | 3 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 527 | 3 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 527 | 3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 542 | 3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 552 | 3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 547 | 3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 557 | 3 |
