National Bureau of Statistics (NBS): In the first half of this year (H1), China's GDP increased by 5.3% YoY; the value-added industrial output of enterprises above designated size increased by 6.4% YoY; the total fixed-asset investment nationwide increased by 2.8% YoY; and the total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 5.0% YoY.

[SMM Steel Morning Meeting Summary: Iron Ore Prices May Maintain a Strong and Volatile Trend] Yesterday morning, the Dalian Commodity Exchange iron ore futures continued to rally, breaking through the 770 high to reach 772, before pulling back briefly in the afternoon and then rebounding again. The most-traded contract I2509 ultimately closed at 767, with a daily increase of 0.13%. Traders sold goods according to market conditions. Steel mills purchased as needed. The market transaction atmosphere was moderate. In the Shandong region, the mainstream transaction prices of PB fines were around 750-754 yuan/mt, up 5 yuan/mt from yesterday's high; in the Tangshan region, the transaction price of PB fines was around 765 yuan/mt, maintaining stability compared to yesterday's price. According to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics today,

SMM Steel News on July 15th: According to SMM statistics, the estimated total shipments of resources in the mainstream market this week were 264,000 mt, up 17,000 mt from the shipment level of the previous week. By market:

[SMM Daily Briefing on Coal and Coke] In terms of supply, some coke enterprises maintained production restrictions to a certain extent due to losses, and the enthusiasm for downstream procurement increased. Coke enterprises had smooth shipments, and their own coke inventory continued to decline. Demand side, pig iron production in steel mills' blast furnaces remained high, creating a rigid demand for coke. Additionally, traders diverted cargo sources, and the overall enthusiasm for downstream procurement was good. In summary, there is a high possibility of implementing the first round of coke price increases, and the short-term coke market may hold up well.

On July 14, data from the General Administration of Customs showed that China exported 9.678 million mt of steel in June 2025, a decrease of 900,000 mt MoM, down 8.5% MoM. From January to June, China's cumulative steel exports reached 58.147 million mt, up 9.2% YoY. In June, China imported 470,000 mt of steel, a decrease of 11,000 mt MoM, down 2.3% MoM. From January to June, China's cumulative steel imports amounted to 3.023 million mt, down 16.4% YoY.

Data from the General Administration of Customs on July 14 showed that China exported 9.678 million mt of steel in June 2025, a decrease of 900,000 mt MoM, down 8.5% MoM. From January to June, China's cumulative steel exports reached 58.147 million mt, up 9.2% YoY. In June, China imported 470,000 mt of steel, a decrease of 11,000 mt MoM.

[SMM Steel Morning Meeting Summary: The overall pullback in steel demand will limit the upside room for HRC prices] Yesterday, HRC futures and spot prices held up well, with the most-traded contract closing at 3,276, up 0.09%. In the spot market, most markets across the country maintained stable quotes, with overall trading performance being moderate. In terms of data, according to SMM shipping data

[SMM Weekly Maintenance Statistics] According to SMM statistics, this week (from July 12 to July 18), the impact of blast furnace maintenance on pig iron production was......

[SMM Daily Coke Market Briefing] In terms of supply, recent losses have widened for coke producers, prompting some to voluntarily implement production restrictions, thereby tightening coke supply. On the demand side, despite the lack of a formal document regarding production restrictions in Shanxi, steel mills have maintained a relatively high level of pig iron production, creating a need for restocking. In terms of news, mainstream steel mills in Hebei and Shandong intend to postpone the first round of coke price increases to this Friday (July 18th), accepting an increase of 50-55 yuan/mt. The previous proposed increases of 70-75 yuan/mt and 90-95 yuan/mt by coke producers last week remain subject to discussion. In summary, coke producers have experienced good sales, coupled with strong cost support. The short-term coke market may hold up well, and a consensus has been reached on the first round of coke price increases.

Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), stated at the 2025 China Auto Forum that in order to strictly prevent the "spillover of rat race competition," CAAM is taking measures to promote enterprises to respect local cultures and laws during the process of going global, ensuring orderly growth in overseas markets. Over this period, positive progress has been made in anti-"rat race" efforts, and mainstream enterprises in the industry have also taken proactive steps to strengthen self-discipline. "Currently, the anti-"rat race" governance work is still continuously deepening.