The Chinese domestic steel section market overall has mostly indicated a slight downtrend during the past two weeks, though a small rebound has been seen in prices since the National Day Holiday.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $354/mt. The same product is sold at $304/mt in the Tangshan market and at $388/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $345/mt in the Shanghai market, at $302/mt in Tangshan and at $386/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 $351/mt, $318/mt and $400/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 generally indicated minor fluctuations during the past week, while a rebound in prices has been observed on October 11. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,680/mt ($265/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,710/mt ($270/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,800/mt ($284/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Prices of some products in the Chinese domestic steel section market moved on a downtrend due to high inventories during the National Day Holiday period (October 1-7). However, after the holiday a slight rebound has been seen in some prices on the back of a minor increase in billet prices. It is thought that some improvement in overall trading activity may be seen in the current month. As for the week ahead, it is believed that traders will focus on sales and that prices fluctuations may depend on the level of trading activity.
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,240 | 354 | ↓20 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 2,090 | 331 | ↓50 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,920 | 304 | ↓10 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,200 | 348 | ↓50 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,450 | 388 | 0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,180 | 345 | ↓26 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,180 | 345 | ↓20 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 2,200 | 348 | ↑30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 1,910 | 302 | ↓20 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 1,990 | 315 | 10 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,440 | 386 | 0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,144 | 339 | 0 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,220 | 351 | ↓20 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 2,160 | 342 | ↓50 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,010 | 318 | ↑40 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 2,110 | 334 | ↑40 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,530 | 400 | 0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,206 | 349 | ↑2 |
The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.32