Bleak stainless steel demand put pressure on NPI prices

Published: May 21, 2024 23:10

Source: SMM

Save

Last week, SMM 8-12% high-grade NPI prices averaged 969.5 yuan/mtu (ex-factory, including tax), up 5.79 yuan/mtu WoW. NPI prices inched upward last week...

Bleak stainless steel demand put pressure on NPI prices

Last week, SMM 8-12% high-grade NPI prices averaged 969.5 yuan/mtu (ex-factory, including tax), up 5.79 yuan/mtu WoW. NPI prices inched upward last week. Supply side, some domestic NPI smelters resumed production in May after maintenance, but their output increase was limited amid high nickel ore prices. Additionally, the only remaining EF production line for NPI in China started maintenance, with an unclear time for production resumption. Therefore, domestic NPI supply was limited. In Indonesia, nickel ores were sourced externally due to a disruption in Indonesian mines, leading to a decline in NPI grade, with a decrease in metal content. Furthermore, the export procedure approval impacted Indonesian NPI exports to China. Demand side, in mid-to-late May, the stainless steel market saw faltering transactions. The spot prices of 300-series stainless steel were under pressure and rose much less than futures prices, but short-term transactions will be active amid approaching procurement cycles. It is expected that NPI prices will rise in the short term.

Nickel

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

2 hours ago

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.

2 hours ago

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.

2 hours ago

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.

2 hours ago