SMM Steel April 7 — According to SMM statistics, estimated total shipments from mainstream markets this week were 182,800 mt, up 8.68% WoW. By market: Table-1: Mainstream Market Arrivals Comparison Data source: SMM Steel Shanghai market: HRC shipments to the Shanghai market increased WoW this week. Specifically, shipments from northeast and east China steel mills were basically stable, shipments of north China resources edged up slightly, and mainstream south China steel mills shipped less last week but rebounded this week on a WoW basis. In the short term, the Shanghai market lacked a competitive edge recently, coupled with sluggish inventory destocking, traders showed low enthusiasm for ordering, and steel mill shipments remained largely stable. Shipments to the Shanghai market next week are expected to see limited WoW fluctuations. Chart-1: Shanghai Market Arrivals Data source: SMM Steel Lecong market: Shipments to Lecong narrowed slightly on a WoW basis this week. Specifically, local mainstream resources showed no significant WoW change, while north China resources decreased slightly. Going forward, local mainstream steel mill WG is expected to continue fulfilling export and specialty steel orders, making it difficult for domestic trade shipment levels to increase significantly in the short term, so arrivals are expected to remain at relatively low levels in the near term. Chart-2: Lecong Market Arrivals Data source: SMM Steel SMM publishes mainstream market HRC shipment flow data every Tuesday. To subscribe or follow more data, please scan the QR code below. ​

SMM Steel News, April 7: According to SMM statistics, estimated total shipments from mainstream markets this week were 182,800 mt, up 8.68% WoW. By market: Table 1: Mainstream Market Arrivals Comparison Source: SMM Steel Shanghai market: Shipments of HRC in the Shanghai market increased WoW this week. Specifically, shipments from northeast and east China steel mills were basically stable, shipments of north China resources edged up slightly, and mainstream steel mills in south China shipped less last week but rebounded this week WoW. In the short term, the Shanghai market has shown limited price advantages recently, coupled with sluggish inventory destocking, traders' ordering enthusiasm remained subdued, and steel mill shipments were mainly stable. Shipments to the Shanghai market next week are expected to have limited WoW fluctuations. Chart-1: Shanghai Market Arrivals Source: SMM Steel Lecong market: Shipments to Lecong decreased slightly WoW this week. Specifically, local mainstream resources showed no significant WoW change, while north China resources declined slightly. Going forward, the local mainstream steel mill WG is expected to continue fulfilling export and specialty steel orders, making it difficult for domestic trade shipments to increase significantly in the short term, so arrivals are expected to remain at relatively low levels in the near term. Chart-2: Lecong Market Arrivals ​ Source: SMM Steel SMM publishes mainstream market HRC shipment flow data every Tuesday. To subscribe or follow more data, please scan the QR code below . ​

According to SMM's latest tracking, the total planned volume of cold-rolled coil commercial material for this month at 31 mainstream steel mills amounted to 4.2118 million mt, down 164,600 mt from the actual cold-rolled coil commercial material production of the previous month, a decrease of 3.8%.

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......

Researchers at Northeastern University have introduced a new technique that can double the efficiency of rare earth element extraction. The study reveals a method for recovering rare earth elements from coal tailings, waste materials left after mining, using chemical treatment combined with a specially designed microwave reactor for precise temperature control. This approach achieves extraction rates two to three times higher than previous methods.

At this year’s national Two Sessions, Xie Yancui, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and chief engineer of the Technology and Quality Center at Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. of Aluminum Corporation of China, showcased the team’s latest R&D achievement: a new-type high-performance rare earth aluminum alloy material. This represents the latest independently developed innovation in China’s aluminum processing sector. According to reports, this seemingly ordinary metal plate has already been successfully applied in the field of manned spaceflight.