The Chinese domestic steel section market has indicated a downward trend in the past week.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $326/mt. The same product is sold at $275/mt in the Tangshan market and at $372/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $316/mt in the Shanghai market, at $275/mt in Tangshan and at $361/mt in the Guangzhou market. In the Shanghai, Tangshan and Guangzhou markets, 250 mm x 118 mm x 10 m I-beam prices stand respectively at $335/mt, $294/mt and $388/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Steel section prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese domestic market have again moved on a soft trend during the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,480/mt ($231/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,510/mt ($236/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,600/mt ($250/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese domestic steel section market has remained quiet over the past week due to the start of the winter season. In addition to weak demand, the downward adjustments of mills' ex-works prices for steel sections as well as the decreases in billet prices have contributed to the declines in the domestic steel section market. It is believed that local Chinese steel section prices may fluctuate on a downward trend in the week ahead.
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,060 | 322 | ↓40 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 1,860 | 291 | ↓20 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,740 | 272 | ↓50 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,040 | 319 | 0 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,350 | 367 | ↓30 | |||
| Average | - | 2,010 | 314 | ↓28 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,000 | 313 | ↓20 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 1,900 | 297 | ↓30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,740 | 272 | ↓20 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 1,770 | 277 | ↓30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,280 | 356 | ↓30 | |||
| Average | - | 1,938 | 303 | ↓26 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,120 | 331 | ↓40 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 1,940 | 303 | ↓20 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,860 | 291 | ↓40 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 1,960 | 306 | ↓30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,450 | 383 | ↓30 | |||
| Average | - | 2,066 | 323 | ↓32 |
The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.40