Chinese domestic steel section prices have followed a downward trend during the past week.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have showed a downward trend during past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,970/mt ($430/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 2,990/mt ($433/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,070/mt ($444/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam section steel offer prices from the ports of Shanghai and Tianjin stand at $488-533/mt FOB as of today, Monday, September 29, softening slightly compared to September 22.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been at normal levels, while prices have softened, influenced by the downticks seen in billet prices. As for the week ahead, considering the National Day holiday period, it is believed that steel section prices will mostly remain stable or fluctuate slightly.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,430 | -10 | 482 | -1 |
| Beijing | 3,200 | -60 | 450 | -8 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,280 | -70 | 461 | -10 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,060 | -60 | 430 | -8 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,490 | -40 | 491 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,292 | -48 | 463 | -7 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,560 | -20 | 501 | -3 |
| Beijing | 3,170 | -60 | 446 | -8 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,270 | -60 | 460 | -8 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,060 | -60 | 430 | -8 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,450 | -40 | 485 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,302 | -48 | 464 | -7 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,490 | -10 | 491 | -1 |
| Beijing | 3,260 | -60 | 459 | -8 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,400 | -80 | 478 | -11 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,140 | -60 | 442 | -8 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,610 | -40 | 508 | -5 | ||
| Average price | 3,380 | -50 | 475 | -7 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.109
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 488 | -5 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 513 | -5 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 493 | -5 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 518 | -5 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 503 | -5 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 503 | -5 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 518 | -5 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 528 | -5 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 523 | -5 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 533 | -5 |