[SMM Sheets & Plates Daily Review] Short-Term Sheets & Plates Prices to Move Sideways

Published: May 18, 2026 17:24

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The most-traded HRC contract fluctuated downward today, closing at 3,429 at the end of the session, down 1.04% intraday. HRC spot prices dropped 10-20 yuan/mt today. In terms of supply, some rolling lines resumed production after maintenance this week, and HRC production edged up WoW, but the pressure remained moderate. Demand side, spot transactions were lackluster today. As futures pulled back, demand from futures-spot arbitrage and speculation weakened, with the market dominated by low-price purchases. Cost side, iron ore was in a pattern of strong supply and demand, while coking coal and coke performed on the weaker side, and cost support remained weak. Looking ahead, the supply-demand imbalance in HRC was relatively small, but caution was still needed in the short term .....

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