Social Inventory of Stainless Steel Continues to Decline: How Will Inventory Change After the Holiday?

SMM News on April 30, 2025,

This week (April 25-30, 2025), the total stainless steel inventory in the two major markets of Wuxi and Foshan continued to show a destocking trend. It decreased from 985,800 mt on April 24, 2025, to 975,400 mt on April 30, down 1.05% WoW, alleviating the inventory pressure in the stainless steel social inventory.

Demand side: Before the Labour Day holiday, there were some procurement and stockpiling activities by downstream enterprises based on rigid demand. Overall, market demand remained stable. Given the current low prices, downstream enterprises and traders maintained a rhythm of restocking at any time.

Supply side: As the month-end and the Labour Day holiday approached, stainless steel mills maintained a normal shipment pace, with some steel mills already entering the maintenance cycle.

200-series: In Wuxi, the 200-series inventory decreased from 95,100 mt to 93,400 mt, down 1.79% WoW. In Foshan, the 200-series inventory decreased from 169,300 mt to 166,700 mt, down 1.54% WoW. The inventory of the 200-series in both regions declined, indicating a strong ability of the market to digest inventories.

300-series: In Wuxi, the 300-series inventory decreased from 359,900 mt to 355,300 mt, down 1.28% WoW. In Foshan, the 300-series inventory decreased from 219,700 mt to 218,400 mt, down 0.59% WoW. The destocking in futures delivery warehouses was significant. However, as the mainstream stainless steel variety, the demand growth momentum may be slightly insufficient.

400-series: In Wuxi, the 400-series inventory slightly decreased from 88,100 mt to 88,000 mt, down 0.11% WoW. In Foshan, the 400-series inventory decreased from 53,700 mt to 53,600 mt, down 0.19% WoW. Affected by changes in export tariffs, the downstream demand for the 400-series was limited. With few arrivals this week, the inventory showed a slight destocking trend.

It is expected that next week, influenced by the concentrated cargo pick-up after the Labour Day holiday and the maintenance of some stainless steel mills, the stainless steel inventory in the Wuxi and Foshan markets may continue the destocking trend.

If you have any questions regarding stainless steel inventory, please feel free to contact us: Chaoxing Yang at 13585549799 (WeChat ID is the same).

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