In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $588/mt. The same product is sold at $520/mt in the Tangshan market and at $596/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $588/mt in the Shanghai market, at $525/mt in Tangshan and at $636/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 $604/mt, $552/mt and $604/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 indicated a minor downward trend in the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,020/mt ($480/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,050/mt ($484mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is around RMB 3,140/mt ($499/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
With the arrival of the winter weather, construction activity in northern China has slowed down greatly, with local demand for steel sections decreasing sharply. Meanwhile, the weakness of billet prices has also contributed to the softness of steel section prices in China. Nevertheless, stable price movement has been observed for certain product grades in the past week in some areas, especially in the south and east. It is believed that China's steel section market will follow an overall downward trend during the coming seven days.