In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $569/mt. The same product is sold at $548/mt in the Tangshan market and at $583/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $567/mt in the Shanghai market, at $554/mt in Tangshan and at $603/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 $592/mt, $569/mt and $608/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 market have not changed over the past week. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 3,090/mt ($501/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 3,120/mt ($506mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is around RMB 3,210/mt ($520mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
In the past week, the trading volume in the Chinese domestic steel section market has slackened compared to the previous week, while mills have reported fewer orders. Meanwhile, supply volumes have also declined because of transportation problems and due to the lack of confidence among traders. In this overall context, the market has mostly moved sideways in the past week, with many market players maintaining a wait-and-see stance. China's domestic steel section market will probably mainly follow a stable trend during the coming week, though certain local markets may see small declines under the impact of slowing demand.