Diverse trends in local Chinese steel section market

China's domestic steel section market has been characterized by diverse trends during the past seven days, with upward, downward and sideway price movements observed.

In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $328/mt. The same product is sold at $302/mt in the Tangshan market and at $373/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $316/mt in the Shanghai market, at $304/mt in Tangshan and at $369/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 $329/mt, $315/mt and $380/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Steel section prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.

As for billet, prices in the Chinese domestic market have declined slightly during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,680/mt ($256/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,730/mt ($264/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,820/mt ($278/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
 
Chinese steel section market prices have indicated diverse trends during past week. Following the rebound seen in billet prices last week, billet quotations have declined slightly this week since the overall trading volume can hardly catch up with the high price. Domestic steel section prices have also decreased in certain products, while prices of other steel sections have been supported by the rise recorded in billet prices. With the trading volume improving, the section prices still have room for a further increase.

The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
 
$1 = RMB 6.55