Chinese domestic steel section prices have declined week on week, having first moved up and later decreased.
As for billet, prices of the semi-finished steel product in the Chinese domestic market have also softened during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,050/mt ($427/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,070/mt ($430/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,150/mt ($441/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
Mainstream ex-China H-beam section steel offer prices from Shanghai or Tianjin stand at $501-546/mt FOB as of today, Monday, Aug 4, down slightly compared to July 28.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has been sluggish during the past week, with the decreases in billet prices contributing to the week-on-week declines in steel section prices. Most traders in the market are maintaining a wait-and-see stance for now. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices may indicate a further small softening.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,490 |
-30 |
489 |
-4 |
| Beijing | 3,300 |
-60 |
462 |
-8 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,390 |
-70 |
475 |
-9 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,140 |
-90 |
440 |
-12 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,520 |
-60 |
493 |
-8 |
||
| Average price | 3,368 |
-62 |
472 |
-8 |
||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,680 |
20 |
515 |
3 |
| Beijing | 3,270 |
-60 |
458 |
-8 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,360 |
-60 |
471 |
-8 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,130 |
-80 |
438 |
-11 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,500 |
-30 |
490 |
-4 |
||
| Average price | 3,388 |
-42 |
475 |
-5 |
||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,530 |
-30 |
494 |
-4 |
| Beijing | 3,370 |
-50 |
472 |
-7 |
||
| Tangshan | 3,470 |
-60 |
486 |
-8 |
||
| Tianjin | 3,210 |
-70 |
450 |
-9 |
||
| Guangzhou | 3,610 |
-20 |
506 |
-2 |
||
| Average price | 3,438 |
-46 |
482 |
-6 |
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 501 | -1 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 526 | -1 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 506 | -1 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 531 | -1 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 516 | -1 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 516 | -1 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 531 | -1 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 541 | -1 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 536 | -1 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 546 | -1 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.140