Prices in the Chinese domestic steel section market are at lower levels compared to one week ago.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $378/mt. The same product is sold at $332/mt in the Tangshan market and at $386/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $366/mt in the Shanghai market, at $340/mt in Tangshan and at $403/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 $381/mt, $348/mt and $399/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 declined sharply in the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB 1,840/mt ($283/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,870/mt ($288/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,960/mt ($302/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
In the past week, Chinese domestic steel section prices first moved on a rising trend and then indicated a decline and are now lower compared to one week ago. Upstream billet prices have decreased significantly. Overall trading activity has not been sufficiently strong to support higher prices and so prices have softened. Traders are unsure of the trend of billet prices and so most of them choose to maintain a wait-and-see stance for now. As for the coming week, it is believed that domestic steel section prices may soften further.
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,390 | 368 | ↑130 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 2,170 | 334 | ↓80 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,150 | 331 | ↓100 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,420 | 372 | ↓30 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,440 | 375 | ↓10 | |||
| Average | - | 2,314 | 356 | ↓18 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,310 | 355 | ↑110 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 2,210 | 340 | ↓80 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,150 | 331 | ↓200 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 2,220 | 342 | ↓200 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,550 | 392 | ↑100 | |||
| Average | - | 2,288 | 352 | ↓54 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,410 | 371 | ↑140 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 2,200 | 338 | ↓80 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,200 | 338 | ↓120 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 2,260 | 348 | ↓110 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,520 | 388 | ↑20 | |||
| Average | - | 2,318 | 357 | ↓30 |
The prices are on theoretical weight basis, all prices include 17 percent VAT and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.50