Philippines' First Full-Process Integrated Steel Mill Achieves Milestone with Successful Operation of Color-Coated Production Line

[SMM Daily Brief Review of Coking Coal and Coke] In terms of supply, after the Two Sessions concluded, operating rates at coke producers increased somewhat, and shipments improved. Inventory pressure eased for most coke producers, with supply remaining stable while increasing slightly. Demand side, blast furnaces in Hebei resumed operations and production, and hot metal production is expected to increase. In addition, steel mill profits improved somewhat, and finished steel shipments picked up, boosting steel mills' production enthusiasm and strengthening their purchase willingness for coke. Overall, coke fundamentals improved, but the market remains in a wait-and-see mode, and the coke market may remain stable in the short term.

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 19 Mar , 2026

[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review] SS Futures Continued to Pull Back, Stainless Steel Spot Quotes Were Lowered SMM News on March 19: SS futures extended their further downward pullback. Against the backdrop of hawkish remarks from the US Fed and escalating geopolitical conflicts, non-ferrous metal futures generally moved lower, with SS also declining in tandem and closing at 13,935 yuan/mt by the midday break. In the spot market, continued declines in SS futures significantly weakened market confidence; coupled with the recent pullback in high-grade NPI prices, market expectations for cost support also softened. In a market where transactions had already been sluggish this week, inquiries and deals weakened further; in addition, March supply remained high, prompting traders to lower their quotes for 304 stainless steel during the day. However, supported by news yesterday that steel mills were holding prices firm, 200-series stainless steel rose against the trend, with 201 stainless steel prices moving higher. Further attention should still be paid to downstream end-user purchase conditions. The most-traded SS futures contract fell and pulled back. As of 10:15 a.m., SS2605 was quoted at 13,930 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums for 304/2B in Wuxi were in the range of 340-540 yuan/mt. In the spot market, the average price of cold-rolled 201/2B coil in Wuxi rose 50 yuan/mt; for cold-rolled trim-edge 304/2B coil, the average price in Wuxi fell 150 yuan/mt and in Foshan fell 50 yuan/mt; cold-rolled 316L/2B coil in Wuxi fell 200 yuan/mt; for hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coil, Wuxi quotes fell 100 yuan/mt; cold-rolled 430/2... in both Wuxi and Foshan.