The steel section market in China has generally remained stable in the past week. In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $680/mt. The same product is sold at $636/mt in the Tangshan market and at $712/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $680/mt in the Shanghai market, at $646/mt in Tangshan and at $728/mt in the Guangzhou market. In Shanghai, Tangshan and Guangzhou markets, 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m I-beam prices stand respectively at $688/mt, $665/mt and $712/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Average steel section prices in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese market have weakened over the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,690/mt ($586/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at 3,720/mt ($590/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is around RMB 3,810/mt ($605/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
The steel section market in China has mostly remained stable in the past week, though with slight declines in some areas and small rebounds in other areas. With the Spring Festival coming, some traders are ready to leave the market. It is expected that the steel section market in China will be mostly stable though possibly with a slightly weak tendency in the days before the holiday.