Chinese domestic steel section prices have moved up slightly during the past seven days.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed a stable trend during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,910/mt ($420/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,930/mt ($422/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,010/mt ($435/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 $503-538/mt FOB as of today, Monday, March 2, rising strongly compared to February 9.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese steel section market has remained sluggish in the past week since demand has not fully recovered. While billet prices have been stable, most steel section traders have chosen to raise their offer prices by small margins due to the low levels of inventory in the market. As for the week ahead, with demand expected to recovery, it is believed that steel section prices may move up slightly.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,320 |
+20 |
479 |
+5 |
| Beijing | 3,200 |
+40 |
462 |
+8 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,270 |
+40 |
472 |
+8 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,090 |
+40 |
446 |
+8 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,460 |
-10 |
500 |
+1 |
||
| Average price | 3,268 |
+26 |
472 |
+6 |
||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,440 |
+20 |
497 |
+5 |
| Beijing | 3,190 |
+50 |
461 |
+9 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,250 |
+30 |
469 |
+6 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,090 |
+40 |
446 |
+8 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,430 |
-10 |
495 |
+1 |
||
| Average price | 3,280 |
+26 |
474 |
+6 |
||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,360 |
+20 |
485 |
+5 |
| Beijing | 3,250 |
+40 |
469 |
+8 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,350 |
+30 |
484 |
+6 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,180 |
+40 |
459 |
+8 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,510 |
-10 |
507 |
+1 |
||
| Average price | 3,330 |
+24 |
481 |
+5 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 6.924
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 503 |
+10 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 528 |
+10 |
|
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 508 |
+10 |
|
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 533 |
+10 |
|
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 518 |
+10 |
|
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 518 |
+10 |
|
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 533 |
+10 |
|
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 543 |
+10 |
|
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 538 |
+10 |
|
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 548 |
+10 |