[SMM Analysis] Market Sentiment Remained Mostly Cautious, Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel Prices May Continue to Hold Steady Next Week

Published: Mar 12, 2026 13:38
[Market Sentiment Remained Primarily Cautious, Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel Prices Might Continue to Hold Steady Next Week] This week, grain-oriented silicon steel quotations were temporarily stable, with only limited recovery in transactions. HRC futures strengthened and then fluctuated this week, but Baowu's base prices for grain-oriented silicon steel in April remained stable, overall market sentiment stayed cautious, and procurement demand was unlikely to be released.

Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel Price Updates

Shanghai, B23R085 grade: 11,500-11,500 yuan/mt

Wuhan, 23RK085 grade: 11,200-11,200 yuan/mt

This week, grain-oriented silicon steel quotations remained temporarily stable, while transaction activity recovered only to a limited extent. HRC futures strengthened earlier this week before moving in a volatile range, but Baowu kept its April base prices for grain-oriented silicon steel unchanged. Overall market sentiment remained cautious, and procurement demand was difficult to release.

Downstream power, transformer, and other core sectors resumed work and production, with rigid demand gradually being released. The implementation of new national standards for transformers drove upgrades in energy efficiency ratings, boosting demand for high-end grades. However, pre-holiday stockpiling has not yet been digested, and downstream manufacturers remained focused on digesting inventories, leaving little willingness to restock in the short term. In terms of supply, mainstream steel mills maintained stable production, and post-holiday ordered resources arrived one after another, increasing inventory pressure and constraining price gains.

Overall, Baowu's flat base-price policy guided market expectations. Meanwhile, silicon steel production remained relatively stable, and downstream demand recovered slowly. Grain-oriented silicon steel is expected to remain in the doldrums next week. In the longer term, energy-efficiency upgrades will continue to increase demand for high-end HiB, and the industry is still developing. Going forward, attention should be paid to downstream restocking, steel mill price policies, and incremental demand driven by new energy and power infrastructure.

 

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[SMM Analysis] Market Sentiment Remained Mostly Cautious, Grain-Oriented Silicon Steel Prices May Continue to Hold Steady Next Week - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)