Today's nickel market (8.1) cut interest rates to the ground, but the Federal Reserve does not pigeon nickel prices continue to fluctuate at a high level with the support of funds.

Published: Aug 1, 2019 15:21

[August 1 SMM nickel product price]

[August 1 SMM nickel market trends]

Electrolytic nickel

Spot: SMM July 31 News: Russian nickel than Shanghai nickel 1909 discount 300-paste 250yuan / ton, Jinchuan nickel than Shanghai nickel 1909 contract generally reported a rise of 1600 to 1800 yuan / ton, today traders generally quoted Shanghai nickel 1909. Early trading hours, nickel prices fell back to 112800 tons near consolidation, holders due to the contract month, have downgraded the rising water, but downstream continue to fear high and cautious procurement, holders support the willingness to lift water is still strong, mainly because the spot circulation supply is not very abundant. It is difficult for traders to collect goods because of low prices, and the trading is equally light. In the second trading session, nickel prices continued to explore, basically around 112000 to stop falling, spot trading slightly warmer, but the overall is still not optimistic, the downstream is still more in the wait-and-see. The mainstream transaction is 111700 to 114200 yuan / ton.

[Jinchuan company ex-factory price] SMM August 1: Jinchuan company electrolytic nickel (big plate) Shanghai quotation 114000 yuan / ton, barreled small pieces 115200 yuan / ton, up from yesterday.

Nickel ore, nickel iron

SMM August 1: according to SMM research, an old production line of a nickel-iron plant in East China has been shut down in the near future, the transformation time is expected to be longer, or will be modified to 2020, the normal production capacity of the production line is about 300 to 350 metal tons.

Chromium ore, ferrochromium

SMM July 31: July 31, ferrochromium market prices remain stable, landmark steel plants a new round of high-carbon ferrochromium price unchanged from last month to point out a stable direction for the recent high-carbon ferrochromium price, but it is worth noting that many ferrochromium factory quotations have exploration intention, ferrochromium manufacturers said that the current profit space is small, or even cost upside down, the southern ironworks is in a state of loss, but it is worth noting that many ferrochromium manufacturers have an upper exploration intention, and some ferrochromium manufacturers say that the current profit space is relatively small, even the cost is upside down, and the southern ironworks is in a state of loss. The operating rate is dismal, the price of raw chromium ore is rising at the same time, so the willingness to produce is low, and most ferrochromium plants are interested in cleaning up inventory pressure with little transaction. Steel price announcement after the release of ferrochromium demand, the overall transaction atmosphere to be invigorated, ferrochromium prices may be expected in the future.

Stainless steel

SMM August 1: Foshan Taiyuan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. cold rolling quotation (including tax edge cutting base price), 304 2B quoted 15500 yuan / ton; 316L quoted 22250 yuan / ton; 430L quoted 8000 yuan / ton. Today's quotations are the same as yesterday.

Inventory

Total nickel stocks in Shanghai, including the previous warehouse receipt stocks, rose 1846 tons, or 2.4 per cent, from last week to 79400 tons, according to a SMM survey. The specific changes are as follows: stocks in East China increased by 900 tons to 33200 tons compared with last week, while stocks in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (including Shanghai Tianwei, Capital Management Hall, facing Port, Jiekai and Henry Bath) refined nickel stocks increased by 1000 tons to 19000 tons over the same period.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
Feb 7, 2026 16:41
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
Read More
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
[SMM Nickel Flash] Based on nickel ore prices from 25 days ago, smelter profits for high-grade NPI remained high this week. However, from the current raw material side, ore prices from both the Philippines and Indonesia increased, while auxiliary material prices saw a slight pullback, leading to an increase in the cash cost of producing high-grade NPI from spot ore. At the same time, high-grade NPI prices experienced some pullback, making it difficult for smelter profits to see sustained improvement.
Feb 7, 2026 16:41
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
Feb 7, 2026 16:40
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
Read More
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
[SMM Nickel Flash] This week, due to a sharp decline in futures triggering arbitrage selling, high-grade NPI prices fell significantly. However, after the selling activity subsided, upstream quotations and the market center gradually returned to normal levels, supported by cost factors. Looking ahead, as the Chinese New Year holiday approaches, market activity is expected to remain subdued, and high-grade NPI prices are projected to hover at highs with limited fluctuations.
Feb 7, 2026 16:40
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
Feb 7, 2026 16:39
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
Read More
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
[SMM Nickel Flash] The SMM average price of 10-12% high-grade NPI fell 17.2 yuan/mtu WoW to 1,035.8 yuan/mtu (ex-factory, tax included), while the Indonesia NPI FOB index average price dropped 2.06 $/mtu WoW to 131.2 $/mtu. At the beginning of the week, futures hit limit-down, and nickel prices fell sharply WoW, driving the emergence of arbitrage supplies sold at low prices, leading to a significant decline in high-grade NPI prices.
Feb 7, 2026 16:39
Today's nickel market (8.1) cut interest rates to the ground, but the Federal Reserve does not pigeon nickel prices continue to fluctuate at a high level with the support of funds. - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)