[SMM Steel] Import Quotas Depleted Rapidly, Domestic HRC Quotes in Europe Surge Across the Board Again

On August 7 China's steel export prices were mostly steady with flat products extending gains. Some flat-product export prices rose 1 USD/tonne day on day, with HRC transactions at 482-485 USD/tonne; Chinese futures rose for successive sessions in the second half of the week and export FOB prices followed, but traders reported limited actual business after the increase, while at the mill end some traders were buying against earlier orders. Billet export FOB prices were steady, with Jiangyin port offers at 450-455 USD/tonne; offers are largely referenced to the rebar futures basis, overseas enquiries are limited and competition is fierce, with only some exporters covering earlier short billet positions. Rebar export offers at Tianjin port were steady with transactions at 474-480 USD/tonne, as overseas enquiries were unremarkable, wait-and-see sentiment prevailed and domestic traders found exporting difficult.

Today, the DCE iron ore futures moved steadily today. The most-traded DCE I2609 contract closed at 716.5 yuan/mt, up 0.35% from the previous session. Spot prices at Qingdao Port averaged a decline of about 0–2 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.