[SMM Hot-Rolled Arrivals] Shipments to South China Market Dropped Significantly WoW  

Published: Mar 24, 2026 18:04
SMM Steel, February 24 – According to SMM statistics, the estimated total shipments to mainstream markets this week reached 302,700 mt, up 50.90% WoW. By market:

SMM Steel March 24: According to SMM statistics, the estimated total shipments to mainstream markets this week reached 214,800 mt, down 19.04% WoW. Breakdown by market:  

Chart-1: Mainstream Market Arrivals Comparison  

Data source: SMM Steel  

Shanghai market: Hot-rolled coil shipments to Shanghai declined slightly this week. Specifically, shipments from mainstream steel mills in South China decreased modestly, while those from other regions remained basically flat. Short-term, east China's price advantage remained limited, prompting steel mills to maintain stable shipment volumes. Next week's shipments to Shanghai are expected to fluctuate rangebound.  

Chart-1: Shanghai Market Arrivals  

Data source: SMM Steel  

Lecong market: Shipments to Lecong dropped notably WoW. The decline was primarily driven by reduced shipments of local mainstream resources, as WG shifted production to specialty steels mid-month, leading to a significant WoW decrease in shipments. Looking ahead, in-transit mainstream resources remain scarce, suggesting arrivals in Lecong may stay low next week, creating opportunities for local inventory drawdown.  

Chart-2: Lecong Market Arrivals  

Data source: SMM Steel  

SMM releases weekly hot-rolled shipment data for mainstream markets every Tuesday. Scan the QR code below to subscribe or access more data. 

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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