Posted on 11 Jun 2026
Billet prices in Tangshan in North China's Hebei province stayed unchanged during June 1-7, with Mysteel assessing the price of Q235 150mm square billet in the city at Yuan 3,020/tonne ($445/t) EXW including the 13% VAT on June 7.
As for domestic supply, most steelmakers in the city maintained their production pace over the week, but with fewer export orders received during the period, the volume of the semis circulating in the domestic market increased, Mysteel noted in its weekly report.
Specifically, the tonnage of billets sold or exported by the 21 steelmakers in Tangshan and the surrounding area regularly monitored by Mysteel mounted by 4.3% or 1,900 t/d on week to average 46,600 t/d over May 29-June 4.
On the demand front, most local re-rollers also operated steadily over the week, with only a few halting production to conduct maintenance. This led to lower billet consumption during the period, with the volume of billets used by the 34 sampled re-rollers Mysteel regularly checks edging down by 1.5% or 700 tonnes/day on week to average 45,900 t/d over May 28-June 3.
The re-rollers' steady operations prompted them to purchase some billets from the market, which saw some billet stocks transferred from traders' warehouses to the yards of re-rollers, Mysteel Global noted.
Specifically, as of June 4 the tonnage of billet held in the three warehouses and two ports in Tangshan under Mysteel's tracking had eased by 4.3% or 99,400 tonnes on week to 2.23 million tonnes. On the other hand, billet inventories held by the 34 local re-rollers Mysteel regularly checks had mounted by 8.5% or 50,100 tonnes on week to 641,000 tonnes as of June 3.
Tangshan billet prices are forecast to decline slightly this week, with weakening supply-demand fundamentals given as the decisive factor.
Market availability of the semis is likely to stay high against contracting demand in the global market, while subdued finished steel demand and the poor profit margins being earned by re-rollers will dampen their interest in producing, Mysteel Global noted. Ultimately, this means billet demand will come under downside pressure.
On the other hand, firm prices of coking coal and coke have been eroding profitability of local steelmakers, with most earning minimal profits from selling the semi-finished product. As such, most steel mills will be trying to firm billet prices this week in an attempt to protect their current margins.
Source:Mysteel Global
