Sluggish demand for stainless steel, warning of simultaneous decline in volume and price [SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review]
[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review: Warning of Simultaneous Decline in Volume and Price Amid Sluggish Stainless Steel Demand] SMM reported on May 30 that today, the SS futures market continued its fluctuating trend. Despite the approaching Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the expected pre-holiday stockpiling did not materialize in the market. As the stainless steel market gradually enters the traditional consumption off-season, overall transactions have become increasingly sluggish. Traders are generally facing difficulties in selling their products, with some merchants choosing to offer discounts to boost sales, driving spot prices to remain in the doldrums. Recently, news of production cuts by stainless steel mills has been circulating, but due to the simultaneous weakening of downstream demand, the supply contraction brought about by the production cuts is difficult to offset the impact of the decline in demand. Against this backdrop, the stainless steel market may face a situation of simultaneous decline in volume and price. In the futures market, the most-traded contract 2507 is fluctuating. At 10:30 a.m., SS2507 was quoted at 12,700 yuan/mt, down 10 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. In the Wuxi region, the spot premiums/discounts for 304/2B stainless steel range from 470 to 670 yuan/mt. In the spot market, the cold-rolled 201/2B coils in Wuxi and Foshan are both quoted at 7,950 yuan/mt; the cold-rolled trimmed 304/2B coils have an average price of 13,100 yuan/mt in Wuxi and 13,100 yuan/mt in Foshan; the cold-rolled 316L/2B coils are priced at 24,050 yuan/mt in Wuxi and 24,050 yuan/mt in Foshan; the hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coils are quoted at 23,350 yuan/mt in both regions; the cold-rolled 430/2B coils are both priced at 7,500 yuan/mt in Wuxi and Foshan. Currently, the stainless steel market has fully entered the traditional consumption off-season, with downstream demand significantly weakening, and the mar...