Chinese domestic steel section prices have followed a slight downtrend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed a slightly reduce trend after holiday. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,030/mt ($423/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,050/mt ($425/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,130/mt ($437/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese domestic steel section market has increased slightly but is still weak, while prices have moved down by small margins influenced by decreases in prices of billet and other raw materials. Market inventory has remained at high levels, which has also exerted pressure on steel section prices. As for the week ahead, demand may continue to increase, while steel section prices may just fluctuate by small margins.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,470 | 0 | 484 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,320 | -50 | 463 | -7 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,420 | -30 | 477 | -4 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,170 | -70 | 442 | -10 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,640 | -30 | 508 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,404 | -36 | 475 | -5 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,530 | 50 | 492 | 7 |
| Beijing | 3,310 | -50 | 462 | -7 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,390 | -40 | 473 | -6 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,160 | -70 | 441 | -10 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,610 | -30 | 503 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,400 | -28 | 474 | -4 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,530 | 0 | 492 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,450 | -60 | 481 | -8 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,510 | -50 | 490 | -7 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,300 | -40 | 460 | -6 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,810 | -30 | 531 | -4 | ||
| Average price | 3,520 | -36 | 491 | -5 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.170