Supported by the recent increases in the Tangshan semi-finished steel market, local steel section prices have posted an upward trend. In the other regions, however, no major recovery has taken place with regard to prices and sales. As of October 12, 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 |
4,363 |
+70 |
651 |
+10 |
Channel |
160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 m |
Q235 |
4,400 |
+108 |
657 |
+16 |
I beam |
250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m |
Q235 |
4,453 |
+65 |
664 |
+10 |
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at RMB 4,350/mt ($649/mt). The same product is sold at RMB 4,240/mt ($632/mt) in the Tangshan market and at RMB 4,500/mt ($672/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 ($651/mt) in the Shanghai market, at RMB 4,340/mt ($648/mt) in Tangshan and at RMB 4,500/mt ($672/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 4,360/mt ($651/mt), RMB 4,500/mt ($672/mt) and RMB 4,500/mt ($672/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
In the Tangshan market, the uptrend of semi-finished costs and the improvement in sales activities have together helped to push up local sales prices of section steel products. However, in the Shanghai and Guangzhou markets, prices have in general failed to follow suit due to the lack of support from the demand side, with only some scattered increases seen.
During the week in question, in the Tangshan market the price of common carbon billets of 150 mm x 150 mm size has risen to RMB 3,990/mt ($598/mt), while the price of low alloy billet has increased to RMB 4,110/mt ($616/mt). Both prices, including 17 percent VAT, are RMB 110/mt ($17/mt) higher than the levels observed just before the holidays.