[Plate/HRC] Today HRC and other flat-product export prices edged up USD 1/tonne day on day, with HRC transaction prices at 485-489 USD/tonne. Overseas Indonesian slab dipped to 465 USD/tonne today, while the domestic price still held at 470 USD/tonne; that level is understood to have essentially reached the domestic cost line, so further cuts by Chinese mills look unlikely. [Billet] Today export billet was offered at 451-455 USD/tonne FOB Jiangyin. Market feedback indicates that heavy domestic sales pressure has lifted mills' appetite for billet exports, with some recently lowering prices to move cargo to exporters, while overseas customers' inquiries were unremarkable. [Rebar] Today Tianjin rebar export prices were steady, with some mills quoting slightly lower and overall transaction prices at 478-483 USD/tonne. Some market participants reported discounted deals today, mostly in small lots, while order intake at the majority of mills that did not cut prices remained poor.

SMM Weekly Stainless Steel Futures Review — week of July 20–24, 2026. Middle East conflict escalation and tight Indonesian nickel ore supply keep the benchmark contract elevated near a two-week high, though it slips RMB 105/mt over the week of July 20–24 as social inventories tip back into a build.

NLMK Group is a top-20 global and the No.1 Russian steelmaker. Its 2025 annual report tells a defensive one built on vertical integration and rock-bottom costs — holding volumes and liquidity under the combined squeeze of shrinking demand, record Chinese exports and a stronger rouble, while keeping decarbonization options open through a roadmap that reaches to 2050.

[Flat products] HRC export deals rise to 488-494 USD/tonne, overseas inquiries lag futures rally On 15 July, HRC and other flat-product export prices rose 1-2 USD/tonne day-on-day, with HRC deals at 488-494 USD/tonne. Chinese futures rallied for a second session, but with overseas prices holding flat, foreign buyers did not step up inquiries in response to the domestic rally; a few grades saw limited deals as the increase was modest. [Billet] Export billet FOB up 1-2 USD/tonne, Jiangyin at 458-460 USD/tonne On 15 July, export billet FOB prices rose 1-2 USD/tonne, with Jiangyin port quoted at 458-460 USD/tonne. Market feedback indicated buyers in Southeast Asia were pushing hard on price, while Chinese mills, mindful of production costs, had limited room to concede, making deals difficult to close. [Rebar] Rebar export offers up 1 USD/tonne, overseas price pressure keeps deals subdued On 15 July, rebar export offers edged up 1 USD/tonne. Traders reported that although export quotes tracked the futures gain, overseas buyers continued to press on price, and actual inquiries and deals showed no clear improvement.

This week, finished steel rebounded slightly after consolidating at lows, while coking coal and coke showed overall satisfactory performance. At the start of the week, with no significant changes in fundamentals or news, ferrous metals continued to consolidate at lows; in the second half, market rumors emerged that BHP’s union announced a work stoppage action. Expectations of short-term supply tightness from the potential stoppage, combined with rising energy costs due to Middle East conflicts, drove a rebound in iron ore prices, which in turn lifted ferrous metals; online auctions for coking coal showed mixed results...

Taiwan's cold-rolled steel buyers remain active in securing Chinese material as the anti-dumping petition filed by CSC over three months ago still awaits formal investigation. In a parallel case, on February 10, the Ministry of Economic Affairs preliminarily found that imports of non-oriented electrical steel from China and South Korea have caused material injury to the domestic industry, and the case will be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for dumping investigation. Market participants noted that the prolonged delay in the cold-rolled probe has encouraged importers to stock up on lower-priced Chinese material, with June imports reaching about 40,000 tonnes. Despite Chinese mills raising offers to defend margins amid falling domestic prices, discounts remain available for large orders, sustaining an arbitrage opportunity versus local Taiwanese prices.

[SMM Steel] Asian HRC prices remained largely stable despite weaker Chinese macroeconomic data and lower iron ore prices. Market sentiment stayed cautious as weak domestic demand in China pressured spot sales and buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach. Chinese mills were reluctant to release new offers amid uncertain price trends. Meanwhile, Europe has largely suspended imported HRC purchases ahead of new safeguard measures effective July 1 and the upcoming summer holiday season.

Brazil’s iron ore exports reached 31.43 million metric tons (mt) in April 2026, a 23% increase compared to the 25.55 million mt exported in April 2025. Revenue from these exports rose to $2.32 billion. China remained the dominant destination, accounting for approximately 65% of the total volume as Chinese mills replenished port inventories. The significant year-on-year growth in shipments from major miners like Vale indicates a recovery in production stability. This surge in global supply, if sustained, may cap potential upside for iron ore prices, particularly as global steel demand outside of India remains fragmented.

Scrap tightening and a major nickel-cobalt producer's output cut pushed SHFE stainless steel to levels not seen since 2023 — yet physical demand remains conspicuously absent heading into the May Day break

The Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) market looks firm on the surface — but dig one layer deeper and two very different realities emerge for high-grade and low-grade material.