Chinese domestic steel section prices have followed a slight downward trend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have edged up by small margins during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,980/mt ($420/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,000/mt ($422/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,080/mt ($434/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 $489-534/mt FOB as of today, Monday, September 8, decreasing compared to September 1.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been sluggish due to the off-season, while prices have softened slightly due to the weak demand, though the decrease margins have been limited by the upticks seen in billet prices. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may just indicate minor fluctuations.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,420 | -20 | 481 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,220 | -20 | 453 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,340 | 0 | 470 | 0 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,080 | -20 | 434 | -3 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,510 | -40 | 494 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,314 | -20 | 467 | -3 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,540 | -20 | 498 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,190 | -20 | 449 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,310 | -20 | 466 | -3 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,080 | -20 | 434 | -3 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,430 | -40 | 483 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,310 | -24 | 466 | -3 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,480 | -20 | 490 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,280 | -20 | 462 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,450 | -20 | 486 | -3 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,160 | -20 | 445 | -3 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,590 | -40 | 505 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,392 | -24 | 478 | -3 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.103
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 489 | -9 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 514 | -9 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 494 | -9 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 519 | -9 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 504 | -9 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 504 | -9 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 519 | -9 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 529 | -9 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 524 | -9 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 534 | -9 |