Chinese domestic steel section prices have either decreased slightly or moved sideways during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have indicated minor decreases during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,050/mt ($429/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,070/mt ($431/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,150/mt ($443/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam section steel offer prices from Shanghai or Tianjin ports stand at $496-541/mt FOB as of today, Monday, Aug 25, have been slightly decreased compared to Aug 18.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been weak due to the off-season and adverse weather conditions, while many traders have reduced their prices slightly due to the downticks seen in billet prices. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may fluctuate by small margins.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,490 | -10 | 490 | -0 |
| Beijing | 3,310 | -10 | 465 | -0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,430 | 0 | 482 | 1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,150 | 0 | 443 | 1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,620 | 0 | 509 | 1 | ||
| Average price | 3,400 | -4 | 478 | 1 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,610 | -30 | 507 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,280 | -10 | 461 | -0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,360 | 0 | 472 | 1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,150 | 0 | 443 | 1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,520 | 0 | 495 | 1 | ||
| Average price | 3,384 | -8 | 476 | -0 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,550 | -10 | 499 | -0 |
| Beijing | 3,370 | -30 | 474 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,490 | -40 | 490 | -5 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,230 | 0 | 454 | 1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,650 | 0 | 513 | 1 | ||
| Average price | 3,458 | -16 | 486 | -1 |
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 496 | -3 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 521 | -3 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 501 | -3 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 526 | -3 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 511 | -3 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 511 | -3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 526 | -3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 536 | -3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 531 | -3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 541 | -3 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.116