Chinese domestic steel section prices have either remained stable or edged 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 slightly reduce trend during past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 mm x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 2,980/mt ($431/mt), the price of 165 mm x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,000/mt ($433/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 3,080/mt ($445/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 $504-539/mt FOB as of today, Monday, March 30, down slightly from March 23.
Overall trading activity in the domestic steel section market has slackened a little in the past week and is currently considered to be at normal levels. Upstream billet prices have softened by small margins, exerting some downward pressure on section prices. However, considering the approaching traditional peak season for sales, some traders have chosen to increase their quoted prices slightly. As for the week ahead, it is believed that steel section prices will just indicate minor fluctuations.
| Product name | Specification | City | Price (RMB/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change ($/mt) |
| Angle (Q235) | 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 mm | Shanghai | 3,450 | 10 | 498 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,290 | 10 | 475 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,370 | 0 | 487 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,170 | 0 | 458 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,570 | 20 | 516 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,370 | 8 | 487 | -0 | ||
| Channel (Q235) | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Shanghai | 3,510 | 10 | 507 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,280 | 10 | 474 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,330 | 0 | 481 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,160 | 0 | 457 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,540 | 20 | 511 | 2 | ||
| Average price | 3,364 | 8 | 486 | -0 | ||
| I-beam (Q235) | 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Shanghai | 3,490 | 10 | 504 | 0 |
| Beijing | 3,330 | 10 | 481 | 0 | ||
| Tangshan | 3,430 | 0 | 496 | -1 | ||
| Tianjin | 3,240 | 0 | 468 | -1 | ||
| Guangzhou | 3,610 | 30 | 522 | 3 | ||
| Average price | 3,420 | 10 | 494 | 0 |
The prices are all ex-mill, including 13 percent VAT.
$1 = RMB 6.922
| Product Name | Category | Specification | Port | FOB Price(USD) | Rise & Fall (USD) |
| H beam | Q235B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 504 | -2 |
| Q235B | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 529 | -2 | |
| SS400 | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 509 | -2 | |
| SS400 | 600*200*11*17 | Tianjin | 534 | -2 | |
| S275JR | HEA200 | Tianjin | 519 | -2 | |
| A36 | W8*31 | Tianjin | 519 | -2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Tianjin | 534 | -2 | |
| A36 | W12*65 | Shanghai | 544 | -2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Tianjin | 539 | -2 | |
| Q355B | 200*200*8*12 | Shanghai | 549 | -2 |
