The Chinese domestic steel section market has continued to decline in the past seven days.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $387/mt. The same product is sold at $316/mt in the Tangshan market and at $418/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $376/mt in the Shanghai market, at $321/mt in Tangshan and at $408/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 $371/mt, $323/mt and $416/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 followed a downward trend during the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,730/mt ($279/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,760/mt ($283/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,850/mt ($298/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the local Chinese steel section market has remained sluggish in the past week. The decreases seen in both billet prices and iron ore prices have contributed to the declines seen in local steel section prices. There have not been any signs of an improvement in downstream demand. As for the coming week, the market is expected to continue to move on a downward trend.
Section steel prices in local Chinese market
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,400 | 386 | ↓80 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 2,170 | 349 | ↓30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,960 | 316 | ↓90 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,430 | 391 | 0 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,590 | 417 | ↓20 | |||
| Average | - | 2,310 | 372 | ↓44 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,330 | 375 | ↓80 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 2,190 | 353 | ↓30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,990 | 320 | ↓40 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 2,030 | 327 | ↓60 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,530 | 407 | ↓100 | |||
| Average | - | 2,214 | 357 | ↓62 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,300 | 370 | ↓80 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 2,230 | 359 | ↓30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,000 | 322 | ↓90 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 2,100 | 338 | ↓180 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,580 | 415 | ↓30 | |||
| Average | - | 2,242 | 361 | ↓82 |
The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.21