[SMM Analysis] Significant Decline in LMO Production in January, February Expected to Continue Downward Trend

Today, DCE iron ore futures trended stronger today, with the most-traded I2605 contract closing at 754.5 RMB/ton, an increase of 0.87% from the previous trading session.

[Domestic Iron Ore Brief: Shandong Region Iron Ore Concentrates Prices May Have Some Upside Potential] In the west Liaoning region, domestic iron ore prices remained relatively stable, with 66 grade iron ore concentrates wet basis ex-factory prices at 745-755 yuan/mt; feedback from local mines and beneficiation plants indicated that during the Two Sessions next week, there may be some restrictions on explosives, further exacerbating the overall tightness of iron ore concentrates resources. Demand side, local steel mills are currently operating according to plan

[SMM coking coal and coke daily brief] In terms of supply, the average profit per mt of coke is around the break-even point, with normal production. However, due to downstream wait-and-see sentiment and some steel mills controlling arrivals, the shipment pace of some coke enterprises has slowed down, leading to a continuous accumulation of coke inventory. On the demand side, the resumption of production at steel mills is slow, and their own coke inventories are at reasonable levels. Additionally, during the Chinese New Year, the accumulation of finished product inventory led to continuously compressed steel mill profits, resulting in mainly purchasing coke as needed. In summary, the willingness of steel mills to seek profit from the raw material end is increasing, and recently, cost support for coke may weaken. Therefore, the current market is characterized by a strong wait-and-see sentiment, and in the short term, the coke market is expected to be in the doldrums, with expectations of price reductions.