[Weaker Macro Sentiment, SHFE Zinc Center Shifted Lower]: The most-traded SHFE zinc 2604 contract opened at 24,460 yuan/mt. Early in the session, bulls reduced open interest, and SHFE zinc fluctuated downward to a low below 24,300 yuan/mt. As downward momentum proved insufficient, the SHFE zinc center moved higher. It closed down at 24,415 yuan/mt, down 5 yuan/mt, a decline of 0.02%. Trading volume fell to 105,000 lots, while open interest decreased by 5,934 lots to 74,747 lots.

[SMM Tin Midday Review: Macro Expectations Tug-of-War; the Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Fluctuated at Highs Before Dropping Back Slightly]

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes: Geopolitical Risks in the Middle East Cool Significantly; Aluminum Prices to Fluctuate at Highs in the Short Term] Overall, from a macro perspective, easing geopolitical risks and the continued buildup of domestic social inventory have created bearish pressure on aluminum prices. However, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains unclear; if the conflict persists, expectations for a tightening of global aluminum supply are strong, and aluminum prices still have solid upward momentum. In the short term, aluminum prices are still expected to hold up well.

In the short term, overseas geopolitical conflict headlines continued, increasing uncertainty in energy-sector price fluctuations, while domestic macro conditions still had expectations for policy tailwinds. Back to steel fundamentals, as downstream procurement demand release remained relatively cautious and the destocking inflection-point cycle had not yet emerged, finished steel lacked strong drivers. Steel prices are expected to fluctuate within a range in the short term, tracking cost trends. After the Two Sessions conclude in mid-to-late month, if demand still fails to drive a rapid drawdown in inventory, steel prices face the risk of a pressured pullback.

[SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Macro Sentiment Shift and Tight-Balance Game; the Price Center May Move Lower]

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: Macro Sentiment and Spot Trades in a Tug-of-War; Tin Prices Retreat After Rapid Rise and Enter Consolidation]

Affected by the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, energy-sector prices climbed intraday, lifting ferrous metals broadly, with raw materials outperforming steel. In the short term, during the Two Sessions, the macro environment was relatively supportive; coupled with heightened energy-sector price fluctuations caused by the geopolitical conflict, steel prices were expected to be supported by costs and hold up well. Watch for the end of the Two Sessions and changes in the Middle East situation. In the absence of domestic and external news catalysts, current steel demand provided limited price support; be alert to downside risk in steel prices after trading around the Two Sessions and the geopolitical conflict cools.

DCE iron ore futures fell before rising, stabilizing in the afternoon session. The most-traded contract I2605 finally closed at 784 yuan/mt, up 0.26% from the previous session. Meanwhile, spot prices fell 2–5 yuan from the previous trading day. Traders showed average enthusiasm in quoting prices, and steel mills’ purchases were mainly for rigid demand. Overall, the spot market saw scant transactions. According to SMM survey tracking, blast furnace maintenance intensity continued to increase this week, with the impacted volume up 102,100 mt WoW to 1.9892 million mt. Iron ore demand was currently at a relatively low level. As blast furnaces that underwent earlier maintenance resumed production in a concentrated manner, hot metal production was expected to rebound next week, and iron ore demand was likely to improve. On the macro front, the war in the Middle East remained in a stalemate. Surging crude oil prices pushed up the ocean freight rate and the cost of imported iron ore, providing cost support for ore prices. However, due to limited actual transactions, upward momentum showed signs of weakening. Therefore, in the short term, ore prices might mainly see sideways movement within a range.

BC copper, the most-traded 2604 contract, opened at 88,740 yuan/mt, fluctuated rangebound early in the session and bottomed at 88,620 yuan/mt. The center of copper prices then gradually moved higher, and after the daytime open it continued to fluctuate upward, testing 90,460 yuan/mt, before finally closing at 90,110 yuan/mt, up 1.90%. Open interest fell to 5,829 lots, down 172 lots from the previous trading day, while trading volume rose to 4,634 lots, indicating bears reduced positions. On the macro front, Trump claimed the Iran war was basically over and mentioned considering control of the Strait of Hormuz. Market concerns over geopolitical conflicts eased, driving international oil prices to retreat from highs; the US dollar index was under pressure, which was bullish for copper prices. Fundamentals, supply side saw sustained increases in availability, with ample replenishment from both domestic and imported sources; demand side, affected by rising copper prices, downstream purchasing sentiment was slightly restrained, and the pace of release in rigid demand slowed somewhat. SHFE copper 2604 contract closed at 101,520 yuan/mt. Based on BC copper 2604 at 90,110 yuan/mt, its after-tax price was 101,824 yuan/mt, and the price spread between SHFE copper 2604 and BC copper was -304. The price spread remained in backwardation and widened markedly versus the previous day.

SMM Nickel News, March 10: Macro and Market Updates: (1) US President Trump: The war has basically ended, and he is considering controlling the Strait of Hormuz; it is “still a long way off” from deploying US ground troops to Iran, and it is too early to talk about seizing Iran’s oil. (2) Russian President Putin and US President Trump held a phone call that day, focusing on the Middle East situation related to Iran and the progress of negotiations on the Ukraine issue. Spot Market: On March 10, SMM #1 refined nickel prices rose by 2,700 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. In terms of spot premiums, the average for Jinchuan #1 refined nickel was 6,650 yuan/mt, down 600 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; the range for domestically mainstream brands of electrodeposited nickel was -300-400 yuan/mt. Futures Market: After the morning open, the most-traded SHFE nickel 2605 contract plunged straight away, hitting a low of 132,000 yuan/mt, then rebounded sharply. As of the morning close, it was quoted at 137,240 yuan/mt, up 0.87%. In the morning session, nickel prices rebounded on news that four Indonesian high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) nickel plants were forced into a full shutdown due to a landslide accident in February. In the short term, the most-traded SHFE nickel contract price is expected to move sideways within the 130,000-140,000 yuan/mt range.