Chinese domestic steel section prices have indicated an upward trend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have increased slightly during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,120/mt ($456/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,140/mt ($459/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,220/mt ($470/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam steel section offer prices from the ports of Shanghai or Tianjin stand at $515-550/mt FOB as of today, Monday, May 11, up slightly compared to April 27.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese steel section market has increased after the Labor Day holiday and is currently at normal levels, while prices have moved up supported by higher prices of billet and other raw materials on the upstream side. Meanwhile, demand has also improved, giving traders confidence. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may move up again, but by smaller margins.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,550 | 80 | 518 | 12 |
| Beijing | 3,360 | 100 | 491 | 15 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,420 | 110 | 499 | 17 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,190 | 80 | 466 | 12 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,520 | 20 | 514 | 4 | ||
| Average price | 3,408 | 78 | 498 | 12 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,540 | 50 | 517 | 8 |
| Beijing | 3,350 | 100 | 489 | 15 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,380 | 90 | 494 | 14 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,180 | 80 | 464 | 12 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,550 | 20 | 518 | 4 | ||
| Average price | 3,400 | 68 | 497 | 11 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,590 | 80 | 524 | 13 |
| Beijing | 3,420 | 100 | 499 | 15 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,530 | 110 | 516 | 17 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,260 | 80 | 476 | 12 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,590 | 60 | 524 | 10 | ||
| Average price | 3,478 | 86 | 508 | 13 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 6.847
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 515 | 3 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 540 | 3 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 520 | 3 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 545 | 3 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 530 | 3 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 530 | 3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 545 | 3 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 555 | 3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 550 | 3 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 560 | 3 |
