[SMM Nickel Flash] June 26 news: SMM's high-grade NPI market sentiment factor stood at 2.12, down 0.06 MoM; the upstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 2.44, down 0.08 MoM; and the downstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 1.79, down 0.04 MoM. Futures continued to drop today, and the SHFE/LME price ratio advantage of nickel plate became prominent, leading to an overall weakening of the NPI market. The previous tight spot cargo logic was questioned, bargaining games intensified in the market, and trading cooled significantly.

[SMM Daily Review: Nickel Plate SHFE/LME Price Ratio Advantage Prominent; NPI Market Trading Continues to Weaken] June 26 news, SMM high-grade NPI upstream sentiment factor stood at 2.52, down 0.07 MoM, while the downstream sentiment factor was 1.83, down 0.03 MoM.

This week, nickel prices first fell and then rose, moving sideways amid a tug-of-war between macro fluctuations and supply-side policy. Early in the week, affected by a stronger US dollar and risk-off sentiment across global commodities, LME nickel once fell below the key $17,000 level. It then rebounded on easing tensions in the Middle East and policy expectations that Indonesia planned to impose a nickel export tax. As of Friday's close, the weekly price of the most-traded SHFE nickel contract rose 3%, while the LME nickel 3M contract gained 2.4% WoW. In the spot market, the average SMM price of #1 refined nickel was 138,030 yuan/mt this week, up 1,100 yuan/mt WoW. The average Jinchuan nickel premium was 5,900 yuan/mt this week, down 1,600 yuan/mt WoW. Premiums for mainstream electrodeposited nickel brands in China ranged from -600-400 yuan/mt. Nickel plate premiums fell notably this week, and sluggish demand led to poor trading in the spot market. On the macro front, geopolitical risks continued to weigh on market risk appetite this week. According to US media reports, the US Department of Defense was formulating a "decisive lethal strike" military plan against Iran, which could include the deployment of ground forces and large-scale airstrikes. Although news of a ceasefire window had emerged earlier, risk-off sentiment did not truly fade. China's macro policy maintained a positive tone, and the pro-growth signals released at the Boao Forum boosted market confidence. Inventory side, Shanghai Bonded Zone inventory was about 1,700 mt this week, with destocking of 500 mt WoW. China's social inventory was about 90,000 mt, with an inventory buildup of about 1,300 mt WoW. Nickel prices are expected to remain in a tug-of-war between "strong cost support" and "weak actual demand" in the short term. The core trading range of the most-traded SHFE nickel contract is expected at 133,000-143,000 yuan/mt. Cost-floor support provided by Indonesian policy remains solid, but macro pressure and weak demand will limit upside room.

Nickel prices came under pressure and pulled back this week. Early in the week, rumors of tighter approvals for RKAB on the Indonesian ore side spurred the futures market to rally briefly, but it later retreated as US Fed officials repeatedly delivered hawkish remarks, the US dollar index held above 106, and global risk assets came under broad pressure. With tensions in the Middle East rising, macro risk-off sentiment strengthened, and nickel prices on SHFE and LME corrected notably. The most-traded SHFE nickel contract closed at 137,140 yuan/mt on Friday, down 1.6% on the week. The LME nickel 3M contract fluctuated between $17,000-17,900/mt this week, with a weekly decline of 2%. In the spot market, the weekly average price of SMM #1 refined nickel was 140,600 yuan/mt, down 2,150 yuan/mt WoW. The weekly average Jinchuan nickel premium was 6,900 yuan/mt, down 1,100 yuan/mt versus the week before Chinese New Year. Premiums for mainstream domestic brands of electrodeposited nickel ranged from -400-400 yuan/mt. After nickel prices fell this week, downstream restocking driven by rigid demand became more evident, and overall spot nickel plate shipments increased WoW. On the macro front, US ADP employment in February increased by 63,000, the largest rise since November 2025 and above the market expectation of 50,000, weakening expectations for US Fed interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, US January PCE and core PCE inflation data rose above expectations, and the US dollar index rebounded, creating short-term pressure on base metal prices. Geopolitical tensions continued to escalate this week, with Iran announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, posing a potential threat to the sulfur supply chain. Domestically, the Two Sessions emphasized medium and long-term benefits from national defense spending, improving expectations for alloy demand in sectors such as defense industry and shipbuilding, which supported nickel alloy consumption. Inventory: Shanghai Bonded Zone inventory was about 2,200 mt this week, flat WoW. Domestic social inventory was about 85,000 mt, with an inventory buildup of about 8,000 mt WoW. Nickel prices are currently in a stalemate, with firmer cost support but unchanged near-term pressure. Tighter Indonesian RKAB quotas and tight nickel ore supply provided strong support for nickel prices, but levels above 140,000 yuan/mt faced strong resistance from high inventory and weak demand. The core expected trading range for the most-traded SHFE nickel contract next week is 130,000-140,000 yuan/mt.

Recently, Shaanxi Jutai New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. announced that its 30,000 mt annual nickel plate production line located at the Zhoushan base in Zhejiang has entered the final commissioning phase and will officially commence production in March 2026. It is understood that the nickel plate project to be launched mainly produces high-purity electrodeposited nickel plates, which will be widely used in the manufacturing fields of alloys and electroplating.

1. Procurement Conditions This procurement project for Ansteel Powder Material Nickel Plate (AGGZZBHHD260122264742) is organized by the Tender Management Office of the Procurement and Supply Center of Ansteel Group Engineering Technology Development Co., Ltd. The procurement project funds are from self-raised sources. The project has met the procurement conditions and is now proceeding with an open single-round negotiation. 2. Project Overview and Procurement Scope 2.1 Project Name: Ansteel Powder Material Nickel Plate 2.2 Transition to Other Procurement Methods after Failed Procurement: Not applicable 2.3 For details regarding the procurement content, scope, and scale of this project, please refer to the attachment "Bill of Materials Attachment.pdf". 3. Bidder Qualification Requirements 3.1 Consortium bidding is not allowed for this procurement. 3.2 This procurement requires bidders to possess the following qualification requirements: (1) Business license for manufacturing type (2) Business license for distribution/circulation type 3.3 This procurement requires bidders to meet the following registered capital requirements: Manufacturing type registered capital: 1,000,000 yuan and above Distribution/circulation type registered capital: 1,000,000 yuan and above 3.4 This procurement requires bidders to possess the following performance requirements: Supply performance (contract and corresponding invoice) for similar products after January 1, 2022. 3.5 This procurement requires bidders to possess the following capability requirements, financial requirements, and other requirements: Financial requirements: See attachment for details (if required) Capability requirements: See attachment for details (if required) Other requirements: See attachment for details (if required) 3.6 For projects that must be tendered according to law, bids from discredited persons subject to enforcement are invalid. 4. Procurement Document Acquisition 4.1 Interested bidders, please log in to the Ansteel Intelligent Tender Platform at http://bid.ansteel.cn from 11:00 on January 22, 2026, to 13:00 on January 27, 2026 (Beijing Time, the same hereinafter) to download the electronic procurement documents. Click to view tender details: