Asian stainless steel prices held stable for a third consecutive week, with Chinese Taiwan's export quotes unchanged and Chinese export offers rebounding to steady levels after a brief dip earlier in the month. Raw material trends diverged, LME nickel prices softened while Indonesian NPI gained ground; Chinese domestic ferronickel stabilized and stainless steel futures posted a weekly gain. Trading activity remains quiet during the traditional off-season, though consumption levels are running ahead of the same period last year. A recent Middle East peace accord helped nickel prices bounce back, pointing to a firm short-term market trend.

Raipur billet prices rose by around 2 USD/tonne day-on-day to about 453 USD/tonne EXW. The increase was supported by previous bookings, moderate buying interest, and firmer sentiment in neighbouring markets. However, spot procurement remained cautious as buyers assessed whether the recovery could continue. Near-term billet momentum will depend on finished steel demand and follow-up transactions.

This week, ferrous metals edged higher before extending their pullback, with coking coal posting the largest decline. At the beginning of the week, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other departments issued a notice on launching a three-year campaign for energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries, and news that the U.S. and Iran were to sign a memorandum of understanding on the 19th improved market sentiment, lifting all ferrous metals. In the latter half of the week, expectations for an eighth round of coke price hikes materialized in the futures market. However, as steel mill profits narrowed further and spot coke had largely priced in the eighth increase, further upside room was limited. Combined with emerging expectations of peak hot metal output, futures began to correct and cost support weakened. Meanwhile, May macro data came in below expectations, dragging the entire ferrous metals complex lower...

SMM News Flash: [Steel Billet] Export billet offers fell by 3-4USD/tonne today to around $470/mt. Inquiries from outside China decreased, orders declined, and the actual negotiation margin for transactions was around 5USD/tonne. Market intelligence indicated that Iran recently took orders for billets, offering significant price advantages, which diverted some Middle Eastern orders to Iran. Additionally, billet export prices from some neighboring countries were lower than those in China, so overseas buyers remained cautious in the short term, which would limit export transactions. [Rebar] Rebar export FOB offers edged down by 2USD/tonne today, tracking futures. According to traders, market sentiment was subdued and inquiries were mediocre. Offers for southern China resources were maintained at 520-525USD/tonne, which were relatively high. [HRC] HRC export prices fell by 1-2USD/tonne day-on-day today, with transaction prices at 494-503USD/tonne. Based on current inquiries, market offers remained mostly above 500USD/tonne, with shipment periods from July to August. Some overseas buyers made inquiries, but their target prices were more than 5USD/tonne below offers.

SMM Weekly Stainless Steel Futures Review — week of June 15–18, 2026. A mid-week hawkish Fed turn capped an early rally, but supply tightening and firm mill pricing lifted the SHFE board RMB 355/mt on the week of June 15–19.

[China Iron Ore Brief] The domestic iron ore concentrates market slightly weakened this week, with regional performance diverging. Prices in Tangshan, Qian'an, and Qianxi in Hebei were basically stable; the Chaoyang, Beipiao, and Jianping areas in western Liaoning saw a slight decrease of 1-5 yuan/mt; while east China bucked the trend with an increase of 10-15 yuan/mt. Looking ahead to next week, according to SMM tracking, steel mill profits are expected to be under pressure again following the implementation of the seventh round of coke price increases.