In the context of declining billet prices, the Chinese section steel market has been following a soft trend. The sales prices of section steels in the domestic market have been decreasing slightly day by day, also given the sluggish transaction situation. As of September 28, the average sales prices in the main regions are as follows:
Product name |
Specification |
Category |
Average price (RMB/mt) |
Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly change ($/mt) |
Angle |
50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m |
Q235 |
4,290 |
-30 |
641 |
-4 |
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m |
Q235 |
4,292 |
-38 |
642 |
-6 |
I-beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m |
Q235 |
4,388 |
-34 |
656 |
-5 |
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at RMB 4,380/mt ($655/mt). The same product is sold at RMB 4,080/mt ($610/mt) in the Tangshan market and at RMB 4,500/mt ($673/mt) in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m steel channels stand at RMB 4,360/mt ($652/mt) in the Shanghai market, at RMB 4,130/mt ($617/mt) in Tangshan and at RMB 4,500/mt ($673/mt) in the Guangzhou market. In the Shanghai, Tangshan and Guangzhou markets, 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m I-beam prices stand respectively at RMB 4,350/mt ($650/mt), RMB 4,440/mt ($664/mt) and RMB 4,500/mt ($673/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
With the National Day holiday (October 1-7) approaching in China, many traders have shown less interest in concluding new deals, preferring to wait and see how prices will change after the holiday.
During the week in question, in the Tangshan market the price of common carbon billets of 150 mm x 150 mm size has declined to RMB 3,880/mt ($580/mt), while the price of low alloy billet has fallen to RMB 4,000/mt ($598/mt). Both prices include 17 percent VAT. Local buyers have not made many bookings of billet.
At present, there are not many inventories in China's section steel market.