[SMM Steel] The initial rollout of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has already impacted Ukraine’s steel sector, with producers losing over 1.1 million mt of export orders in Q1 2026. Companies including Metinvest, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and Interpipe reported order cancellations, higher compliance costs, and operational challenges. Additional CBAM-related costs and technical barriers are tightening access to the EU market, raising concerns over export competitiveness.

[SMM Titanium Spot Brief: Rutile Titanium Dioxide Prices Rose, Cost Support Remained Strong] China's titanium dioxide market prices were basically flat today, with rutile grades raised by 100 yuan/mt. Multiple enterprises closed their order books and held back from selling, and bullish sentiment was strong in the market. Sulphuric acid prices continued to rise, providing strong cost support on the cost side, and the market showed a divergent trend.

[SMM Chrome Daily Review: Ferrochrome Market Temporarily Stable, Chrome Ore Prices Unchanged] April 8, 2026: The ferrochrome and chrome ore markets saw limited fluctuations...

HRC futures dipped before rebounding today, with the most-traded contract closing at 3,282, up 0.06% WoW. Spot market side, market quotations showed mixed performance, overall trading was relatively lackluster, though transactions at lower prices were moderate. In terms of supply, the impact from maintenance on hot-rolled production was 106,400 mt this week, down 88,800 mt WoW, while next week's hot-rolled maintenance impact is expected to be 11.7 mt, an increase of 10,600 mt WoW, with overall supply still on an increasing trajectory. Demand side, end-user purchase enthusiasm was unlikely to exceed expectations, with most purchases made on an as-needed basis at lower prices. Inventory side, mainstream city inventory data was released today, with varied performance across markets....

HRC futures first dipped then rallied today. The most-traded contract closed at 3,282, up 0.06% WoW. Spot market side, market quotations showed mixed performance, with overall trading activity being relatively lackluster, though transactions at lower prices were moderate. In terms of supply, the impact from maintenance on hot-rolled production was 106,400 mt this week, down 88,800 mt WoW. Next week, the impact from maintenance on hot-rolled production is expected to be 11.7 mt, up 10,600 mt WoW, with overall supply still on an increasing trend. Demand side, end-user purchasing enthusiasm was unlikely to exceed expectations, with most purchases being need-based at lower prices. Inventory side, mainstream city inventory data was released today. Performance varied across markets, but overall destocking outpaced inventory buildup, and the overall destocking trend is likely to continue. Looking ahead, the US-Iran conflict reportedly entered the final stage of detail finalisation today. Attention should be paid to the impact of subsequent international disruptions on the raw material side. Meanwhile, the conclusion of the US-Iran conflict may boost market confidence in exports. In the short term, the most-traded HRC futures contract is expected to maintain a fluctuating trend of moving sideways.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] President Prabowo Subianto has ordered Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to immediately revoke all illegal mining permits (IUP). The directive was given during a Cabinet Working Meeting at the State Palace on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Prabowo instructed Bahlil to act swiftly on reports of hundreds of unclear or illegal mining permits operating inside protected forests. He also asked Forestry Minister Raja Juli Anthoni about the current condition of protected forests and emphasized the need for immediate action on illegal IUPs found in the field.