Chinese domestic steel section prices have continued to follow a slight downtrend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed a slightly reduce trend during the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,920/mt ($411/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,940/mt ($414/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,020/mt ($426/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 $480-525/mt FOB as of today, Monday, October 20, down slightly compared to October 13.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been sluggish during the past week, contributing to the further minor downticks in prices, also influenced by the slight decreases seen in billet prices. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may just fluctuate slightly.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,370 | -20 | 475 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,160 | -20 | 445 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,240 | -20 | 457 | -3 | ||
| Tianjin | 2,990 | -50 | 421 | -7 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,470 | -20 | 489 | -3 | ||
| Average price | 3,246 | -26 | 457 | -3 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,520 | -20 | 496 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,130 | -20 | 441 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,220 | -20 | 454 | -3 | ||
| Tianjin | 2,990 | -50 | 421 | -7 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,430 | -20 | 483 | -3 | ||
| Average price | 3,258 | -26 | 459 | -3 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,430 | -20 | 483 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,220 | -20 | 454 | -3 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,380 | -20 | 476 | -3 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,070 | -50 | 433 | -7 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,590 | -20 | 506 | -3 | ||
| Average price | 3,338 | -26 | 470 | -3 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.097
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 480 | -5 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 505 | -5 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 485 | -5 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 510 | -5 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 495 | -5 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 495 | -5 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 510 | -5 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 520 | -5 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 515 | -5 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 525 | -5 |