[SMM Steel] Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) to co-develop scalable low-carbon steelmaking technologies. The collaboration focuses on four strategic areas: scrap-based steelmaking, steel waste valorization, carbon capture and utilization (CCUS), and end-product performance. By leveraging USTB’s pilot-scale facilities and Tata Steel’s engineering strengths, the partnership aims to accelerate the transition of sustainable metallurgical research into practical industrial applications.

Indonesian steel producer PT Bahagia Steel has partnered with SMS Group to install a new twin-strand rebar production line at its Kampung Wringinanom site. The project is part of a plan to reach a total capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to serve Southeast Asia’s growing infrastructure demand.

State-run NMDC Limited announced on March 13, 2026, that it has reached a historic production milestone of 50 million tonnes (mt) of iron ore in the current financial year. This is the first time an Indian miner has crossed this threshold. The company is currently optimizing mechanized mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka to support India’s goal of 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2030.

SMM Flash: Today, some of China’s steel export prices were raised by $3-5/mt, with order shipment schedules mostly concentrated in May. Recently, due to a sharp surge in freight rates, traders faced difficulty in making shipments, and HRC order-taking weakened significantly. According to the SMM survey, freight rates to the Middle East were as high as $50-60, while freight rates to Malaysia had also reached $30, and clients outside China showed strong wait-and-see sentiment.

[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review] SS Futures Fluctuated, Rising First and Then Falling, While Spot Quotes Edged Lower and Transactions Recovered SMM News, March 17: SS futures moved sideways. During the day, SS futures rose first and then fell, overall maintaining a sideways movement pattern, and closed at 14,155 yuan/mt by the midday break. In the spot market, although SS futures were relatively strong in the morning, affected by the previous cuts in guidance prices by major stainless steel mills, trader quotes still edged slightly lower than yesterday. However, market sentiment had stabilized somewhat, and amid the price pullback, both inquiries and transactions increased to some extent. The most-traded SS futures contract fluctuated. As of 10:15 a.m., SS2605 was quoted at 14,220 yuan/mt, up 175 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums for 304/2B in Wuxi stood at 200-400 yuan/mt. In the spot market, the average price of cold-rolled 201/2B coils in Wuxi fell by 50 yuan/mt; for cold-rolled trim-edge 304/2B coils, the average price in Wuxi fell by 50 yuan/mt, and the average price in Foshan also fell by 50 yuan/mt; cold-rolled 316L/2B coils in Wuxi were basically stable; hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coils were quoted basically stable in Wuxi; cold-rolled 430/2B coils in both Wuxi and Foshan were basically stable. As the traditional peak consumption season of "Golden March and Silver April" began, the stainless steel market entered a window for demand recovery, with downstream end-users gradually recovering. Recently, activity in inquiries and purchases increased markedly, but stainless steel spot prices overall remained basically stable, with no obvious fluctuations. End-user procurement was still mainly driven by rigid demand, and the full bustle of the peak season had yet to emerge, ...

[SMM Nickel Flash] March 17 News. Supply side, some smelters held firm on quotations, but amid the futures decline and stainless steel finished product prices coming under pressure, some traders feared buying at elevated levels. Demand side, terminal demand remained weak and struggled to accept high prices for stainless steel finished products. Meanwhile, the cost advantage of steel scrap widened, and steel mills' willingness to procure high-grade NPI turned sluggish again.