Electric-Furnace Mills See Mixed Earnings; Some Boost Profits by Adjusting Specs and Raising Prices

HRC futures consolidated at highs today, with the most-traded contract closing at 3,302, down 0.36% for the day. Spot market, prices in most major markets were largely stable. In terms of supply, production resumed in North China, and HRC production rebounded by 30,700 mt WoW this week, with further increases expected later. Demand side, end-users made normal purchases after the holiday, gradually rising to seasonal levels. In terms of raw materials, ongoing disruptions outside China continued to support costs. Overall, HRC remained in a pattern of simultaneous recovery in both supply and demand in the short term. Social inventory fell by 36,300 mt WoW this week, and total inventory also reached an inflection point, in 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