Chinese domestic steel section prices have continued their slightly soft trend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have been at the same price level compared to last week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,920/mt ($407/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,940/mt ($410/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,020/mt ($421/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been slack due to the off-season, while prices have only softened slightly, supported by the stability of billet prices. As for the week ahead, considering the weakness of demand, it is believed that steel section prices may indicate a further slight softening.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,330 | 0 | 464 | 1 |
| Beijing | 3,120 | -20 | 435 | -2 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,210 | 0 | 448 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,000 | -10 | 418 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,350 | -20 | 467 | -2 | ||
| Average price | 3,202 | -10 | 447 | -1 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,500 | 0 | 488 | 1 |
| Beijing | 3,090 | -20 | 431 | -2 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,180 | -10 | 443 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 2,980 | -10 | 416 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,340 | -20 | 466 | -2 | ||
| Average price | 3,218 | -12 | 449 | -1 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,370 | -30 | 470 | -4 |
| Beijing | 3,200 | -20 | 446 | -2 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,310 | -20 | 462 | -2 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,070 | -10 | 428 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,530 | -20 | 492 | -2 | ||
| Average price | 3,296 | -20 | 460 | -2 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.171