This week, ferrous metals were in the doldrums. The main logic during the week remained weakening cost support. On Tuesday, Iran proposed charging transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump made conciliatory remarks, saying that “even if the Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed, he would still be willing to end military action against Iran.” Market expectations for tighter crude oil supply weakened, and declines in the energy sector dragged down the coal sector, weakening the cost-side logic. During the week, inventories of the five major steel products continued to decline, but apparent demand remained at a low level for the same period in previous years, providing limited fundamental-driven momentum to futures. In the spot market, purchasing interest was average, mainly focused on restocking at low prices. Spot prices were relatively firm, and the spot-futures price spread widened somewhat......
Apr 3, 2026 18:25On April 3, the SMM average price of battery-grade nickel sulphate declined slightly.
Apr 3, 2026 11:57As of now, the FOB price of nickel in Indonesian MHP was $15,383/mt Ni, and the FOB price of cobalt in Indonesian MHP was $51,364/mt Co. MHP payables (against the SMM battery-grade nickel sulphate index) were 86.5-87.5, and the payable indicator for cobalt element in MHP (against SMM refined cobalt (Rotterdam warehouse)) was 94. The FOB price of Indonesian high-grade nickel matte was $15,666/mt Ni.
Apr 2, 2026 11:08![[SMM Analysis] India’s Stainless Steel Dilemma: Protect the Market, or Keep It Supplied](https://imgqn.smm.cn/production/admin/votes/imagesPdumt20260401143238.jpeg)
New Delhi quietly renewed BIS certification waivers through September 2026, even as it talks tough on Chinese overcapacity. The contradiction reveals more about India's industrial gaps than its trade policy convictions
Apr 1, 2026 14:30Cleveland-Cliffs officially confirmed in late March 2026 that it has abandoned plans to replace a traditional coal-based blast furnace at its Middletown Works in Ohio with a hydrogen-ready direct reduced iron (DRI) facility. Despite previously winning a $500 million federal grant for the project, the steelmaker has pivoted back to refurbishing its existing blast furnace infrastructure, citing economic feasibility and shifting energy priorities. This decision maintains the site's reliance on metallurgical coke and coal, highlighting the challenges facing the U.S. steel industry's transition toward "green steel" technologies.
Apr 1, 2026 11:56【SMM Steel】Germany approved its Climate Protection Program 2026, allocating ~€2.9bn to support industrial electrification, decarbonization, and circular economy. The German Steel Industry Association welcomed the direction but noted a lack of concrete measures in key areas like rail infrastructure, which could limit progress. It also urged establishing "Made in Europe" criteria to protect competitiveness.
Apr 1, 2026 09:45SMM will launch two new price points for Indonesia 316L stainless steel, "Indonesia 316L/NO.1 Coil Mill Edge" and "Indonesia 316L/2B Coil Mill Edge," effective March 13, 2026.
PriceMar 11, 2026 18:14Dear users, As the core raw material for the steel industry, the price fluctuations of iron ore directly determine the cost and profit stability of the steel industry chain. In recent years, the endowment of global iron ore resources has shown significant changes, with the proportion of high-grade ore production continuously declining. To actively respond to market changes, enhance the guiding significance of the index for the Spot Market, and improve market information transparency, SMM has decided to launch the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI)" and the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI)" from 5th January 2026. The specific price point details are as follows: Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: FOT Qingdao Port, VAT included. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: RMB/wet tonnes Quantity: min 5,000 tonnes Timing: within 1 week Payment Terms: Payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: CFR Qingdao Port. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: USD/dry tonnes Quantity: min 50,000 tonnes Timing: within 2 months Payment Terms: L/C or payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time SMM Iron Ore Research January 5, 2026
PriceJan 5, 2026 14:18In recent years, Indonesia has solidified its position as a global supply and export hub for the stainless steel industry. With the continuous upgrade of local production capabilities, the export volume of 304L series stainless steel has seen significant growth. Due to its superior intergranular corrosion resistance and weldability, 304L is increasingly demanded in the chemical, energy, and high-end manufacturing sectors across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. To better reflect the supply-demand fundamentals of the low-carbon stainless steel market and to provide global traders and downstream users with more precise settlement references and risk management tools, SMM has decided to expand its overseas price assessment portfolio. Effective December 26, 2025 , SMM will officially launch the following two new price points: "304L/NO.1 Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt" and "304L/2B Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt" . The details of the new price points are as follows: 1. Product Name: 304L/NO.1 Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt Quality: Standard thickness 4mm, thickness range 4.0-8.0mm, width 1520mm, Mill Edge, conforming to ASTM A480/A480M. Brand Listing: ITSS, GCNS, OSS Definition: FOB Indonesia main ports Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Min 20 tonnes Timing: 1-3 Months Publication Time: Daily, by 11:00 am Jakarta Time (Working Days) Payment Terms: L/C / TT at sight in USD, or other payments normalized. 2. Product Name: 304L/2B Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt Quality: Standard thickness 2mm, thickness range 1.5-2.0mm, width 1240mm, Mill Edge, conforming to ASTM A480/A480M. Brand Listing: Yongwang, Ruipu, IMR ARC Steel Definition: FOB Indonesia main ports Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Min 20 tonnes Timing: 1-3 Months Publication Time: Daily, by 11:00 am Jakarta Time (Working Days) Payment Terms: L/C / TT at sight in USD, or other payments normalized. For any inquiries, please contact the SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department. SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department December 18, 2025
PriceDec 18, 2025 17:50

