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Futures-wise, the most-traded SS2508 contract declined. At 10:30 am, SS2508 traded at 12,695 yuan/mt, down 55 yuan/mt from the previous session. Wuxi's 304/2B spot premiums/discounts ranged between 125-275 yuan/mt. In spot markets, Wuxi and Foshan's 201/2B cold-rolled coils both traded at 7,600 yuan/mt; 304/2B cold-rolled edge-trimmed coils averaged 12,725 yuan/mt in both cities; Wuxi's 316L/2B cold-rolled coils traded at 23,600 yuan/mt, matching Foshan's price; 316L/NO.1 hot-rolled coils were quoted at 22,900 yuan/mt in both locations; 430/2B cold-rolled coils traded at 7,100 yuan/mt in both cities.
Currently, although stainless steel social inventories declined slightly and market confidence improved compared to earlier periods with marginally better transactions, the sector remains in its traditional off-season without substantial recovery in end-use demand. Presently, transactions remain heavily influenced by futures movements and news flow, with persistently low acceptance of high-priced material keeping stainless steel spot prices at relatively depressed levels.Despite recent pullbacks in social inventories over the past two weeks, overall levels stay elevated, maintaining significant destocking pressure on steel mills' in-plant and forward inventories, which continues delaying the supply-demand rebalancing process.Additionally, under current expectations for mill production cuts, demand for high-grade NPI weakened, keeping nickel pig iron prices depressed and further eroding cost support for stainless steel.
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