[Thailand] Recently, the Thai hot-rolled galvanized steel market has been deeply dragged down by traditional off-season factors, with overall transaction performance remaining sluggish and transaction prices showing a pronounced month-on-month decline trend. In terms of pricing and competition, the market has been strongly impacted by low-priced zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel orders. According to SMM survey, their offer levels have been pushed down to 585-590 USD/tonne, causing diversion and a price collapse for normal hot-rolled galvanized steel export channels and pricing. In the short term, the off-season effect is expected to continue to overshadow the market, with hot-rolled galvanized steel price weakness difficult to reverse; a substantive market recovery may have to wait until August and September, when the off-season gradually ends and the demand side may finally see more evident improvement and signs of recovery.

SMM Morning Report: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,383.5/mt. Early in the session, amid wild swings, it touched a low of $13,334/mt, before the center of copper prices shifted upward sharply to reach a high of $13,433/mt. It then drifted lower to finally close at $13,380/mt, up 0.27%. Trading volume was 17,000 lots, and open interest was 245,000 lots, down 1,684 lots from the previous trading day, reflecting bearish position reduction. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2608 contract opened at 102,870 yuan/mt. Early in the session, it dipped to 102,640 yuan/mt, then the price center shifted higher to touch a high of 103,420 yuan/mt, before drifting lower, moving sideways, and finally closing at 102,880 yuan/mt, up 0.38%. Trading volume reached 34,000 lots, and open interest 154,000 lots, down 1,382 lots from the previous trading day, reflecting bearish position reduction.

Today, DCE iron ore futures consolidated. Contract I2609 eventually closed at 747 yuan/mt, up 0.61% from the previous trading session. Port spot prices rose by 0-3 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Trader activity was moderate, steel mill purchases were mostly based on rigid demand, and as of now, spot trading volume was moderate. Currently, iron ore fundamentals continued to show a bearish structure. The supply side remained loose, with no clear signs of shifting, while demand entered a plateau phase, expected to continue trending downward in the future. This week's SMM survey data showed that the impact on hot metal due to blast furnace maintenance was 1.1563 million mt, down 48,700 mt WoW, and next week, the estimated impact is expected to reach 1.2005 million mt. On the news front, marginal disruptions dominated, with bullish news prevailing, but not yet pointing to a one-sided market. Therefore, taking everything into account, short-term iron ore prices will continue to move sideways. [SMM Steel]

During the survey period (June 23–June 29), the production and capacity utilization rates of rebar and wire rod in Central China remained stable.

SMM Morning Briefing: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,341/mt. In early trading, it drifted higher to touch a high of $13,379/mt. Then the center of copper prices drifted lower to touch a low of $13,252.5/mt. Afterwards, it drifted higher again and eventually closed at $13,344.5/mt, up 0.17%. Trading volume reached 14,200 lots, and open interest stood at 246,000 lots, down 256 lots from the previous trading day, which reflected bears reducing positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2608 contract opened at 102,710 yuan/mt. In early trading, it quickly rose to a high of 102,850 yuan/mt. Then the price center drifted lower to touch a low of 102,100 yuan/mt. Afterwards, it drifted higher and finally ended at 102,340 yuan/mt, down 0.79%. Trading volume was 31,000 lots, and open interest stood at 152,000 lots, down 1,906 lots from the previous trading day, which reflected bulls reducing positions.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Last Friday evening, LME copper opened at $13,269.5/mt. It dipped to a low of $13,250/mt during wild swings in early trading, then the center of copper prices drifted higher and rose to $13,378/mt near the session's end, finally closing at $13,322/mt, up 0.05%. Trading volume reached 19,100 lots, and open interest stood at 247,000 lots, down 1,285 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bear position reduction. Last Friday evening, the most-traded SHFE copper 2608 contract opened at 102,240 yuan/mt, immediately dipped to 102,020 yuan/mt in early trading, then the center of copper prices moved steadily upward and reached a high of 102,930 yuan/mt near the session's end, finally closing at 102,740 yuan/mt, up 1.16%. Trading volume reached 42,000 lots, and open interest stood at 156,000 lots, down 3,193 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bear position reduction.