Chinese domestic steel section prices have been moving up during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed an upward trend during past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,060/mt ($428/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,080/mt ($431/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,160/mt ($442/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 $485-530/mt FOB as of today, Monday, July 21, up slightly compared to July 14.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been sluggish over the past week, while prices have risen on the back of higher billet prices. The weakness of demand, however, has limited the extent of the increases in steel section prices. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may indicate slight increases.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,430 |
+70 |
480 |
+10 |
| Beijing | 3,260 |
+70 |
456 |
+10 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,340 |
+70 |
467 |
+10 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,130 |
+50 |
438 |
+7 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,450 |
+50 |
482 |
+7 |
||
| Average price | 3,322 |
+62 |
464 |
+8 |
||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,550 |
+70 |
496 |
+10 |
| Beijing | 3,230 |
+70 |
452 |
+10 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,330 |
+100 |
466 |
+14 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,110 |
+50 |
435 |
+7 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,440 |
+50 |
481 |
+7 |
||
| Average price | 3,332 |
+68 |
466 |
+9 |
||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,470 |
+70 |
485 |
+10 |
| Beijing | 3,320 |
+70 |
464 |
+10 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,410 |
+130 |
477 |
+18 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,180 |
+50 |
445 |
+7 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,600 |
+40 |
503 |
+5 |
||
| Average price | 3,396 |
+72 |
475 |
+10 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.152
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price ($/mt) | Change ($/mt) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200 x 200 x 8 x 12 | Tianjin | 485 | +4 |
| Q235B | 600 x 200 x 11 x 17 | Tianjin | 510 | +4 | |
| SS400 | 200 x 200 x 8 x 12 | Tianjin | 490 | +4 | |
| SS400 | 600 x 200 x 11 x 17 | Tianjin | 515 | +4 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 500 | +4 | |
| A36 | W8 x 31 | Tianjin | 500 | +4 | |
| A36 | W12 x 65 | Tianjin | 515 | +4 | |
| A36 | W12 x 65 | Shanghai | 525 | +4 | |
| Q355B | 200 x 200 x 8 x 12 | Tianjin | 520 | +4 | |
| Q355B | 200 x 200 x 8 x 12 | Shanghai | 530 | +4 |
