Steel Market Dips: Hot-Rolled Coil Falls, Production Accidents Spark Supply Concerns

Published: Jan 19, 2026 18:06

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Hot-rolled coil prices fluctuated downward today, with a full-day decline of 0.75%, and the most-traded contract closed at 3,299 yuan/mt. Spot prices generally fell by 10–20 yuan/mt, and actual transaction performance was below average. Cold-rolled coil prices dropped by 10 yuan/mt, with moderate trading volume. On the news front, accidents occurred successively at Baotou Steel and Ezhou Pellet over the past two days, leading to partial production halts and drawing market attention. From a fundamental perspective, the accidents are expected to tighten supply, though overall production remains at medium-to-high levels. Meanwhile, off-season demand continues to deepen, with domestic demand acting as a significant drag, and end-user procurement demand is expected to remain weak and volatile.

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