The Chinese domestic steel section market has followed a decreasing trend during the past week.
In the Shanghai market, the price of 50 mm x 50 mm x 5 m steel angles is now at $407/mt. The same product is sold at $332/mt in the Tangshan market and at $405/mt in the Guangzhou market. Meanwhile, prices of 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm steel channels stand at $391/mt in the Shanghai market, at $328/mt in Tangshan and at $422/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 $396/mt, $342/mt and $419/mt. The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT. Steel section prices in the Chinese domestic market can be viewed in the table below.
As for billet, prices in the Chinese domestic market have softened in the past seven days. In Tangshan, the current price of Q235 150 x 150 mm square billet is at RMB1,820/mt ($277/mt), the price of 165 x 225 mm rectangular billet stands at RMB 1,850/mt ($281/mt), while the price of 20MnSi billet is at around RMB 1,940/mt ($295/mt). The prices are all ex-mill, including 17 percent VAT.
Overall trading activity in the local Chinese steel section market has remained at low levels during the past week amid the ongoing downward trend of prices. However, supply volumes are expected to decrease in the coming period as producers are due to carry out maintenance work, which would provide some support for prices. Domestic steel section prices may rebound slightly in the week ahead.
| Product name | Spec. | Category | City | Steel plant/origin | Price (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly change (RMB/mt) |
| Angle | 1 mm x 1 mm x 5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,570 | 391 | ↓130 |
| Beijing | Tangshan | 2,210 | 336 | ↓40 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,100 | 319 | ↓50 | |||
| Tianjin | Zhaobo | 2,500 | 380 | ↓50 | |||
| Guangzhou | Tongsteel | 2,560 | 389 | ↓50 | |||
| Average | - | 2,388 | 363 | ↓64 | |||
| Channel | 160 mm x 65 mm x 8.5 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Masteel | 2,470 | 375 | ↓130 |
| Beijing | Xuangang | 2,210 | 336 | ↓40 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,070 | 315 | ↓80 | |||
| Tianjin | Jiangtian | 2,200 | 334 | ↔0 | |||
| Guangzhou | Liusteel | 2,670 | 406 | ↓50 | |||
| Average | - | 2,324 | 353 | ↓60 | |||
| I Beam | 21 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm | Q235 | Shanghai | Laiwu | 2,500 | 380 | ↓50 |
| Beijing | Laiwu | 2,260 | 343 | ↓30 | |||
| Tangshan | Tangshan | 2,160 | 328 | ↓80 | |||
| Tianjin | Haicheng | 2,250 | 342 | ↔0 | |||
| Guangzhou | Haicheng | 2,650 | 403 | ↔0 | |||
| Average | - | 2,364 | 359 | ↓32 |
$1 = RMB 6.58