[SMM Acier]

This week, mines and beneficiation plants in Shandong quoted 64% grade alkaline powder at 810 yuan ex-mine on a dry, pre-tax, acceptance basis, and steel mills raised prices in tandem. Most mines and beneficiation plants maintained normal production as planned; steel mills, especially those in Hebei, purchased actively, with small mills and traders shipping according to scheduled orders. Trading in the region was relatively active throughout the week, and miners held no excess inventory. Recently, iron ore futures have shown a strong trend, which may lift domestic concentrate prices.

[Billette d’acier] Aujourd’hui, le prix FOB à l’exportation de la billette a légèrement progressé de 4 $/t, le port de Jiangyin étant coté entre 465 et 470 $/t. Selon les retours, la récente hausse des offres d’exportation de billettes a été plus importante que celle de certains exportateurs étrangers, et son avantage de prix est relativement faible, en particulier sur le marché de l’Asie du Sud-Est, où il est difficile de rivaliser. En revanche, quelques commandes au long cours ont été reçues.

Cost pressure is evident, but confirmed export transactions have not demonstrated a complete pass-through into realised HRC prices