SHANGHAI, Feb 27 (SMM) - SS contract prices fluctuated downwards after surging last week. Construction of infrastructure projects started one after another, and many places have also introduced favourable policies to boost the real estate market. Ferrous metal prices rose first, and then the SS contract grew. According to SMM research, the social inventory of 300-series stainless steel in the Wuxi and Foshan markets fell slightly due to stainless steel mills' shipment control and the rigid demand for hot-rolled coils. However, the recent cold-rolled coil trading has weakened, and most of the transactions were concentrated in traders. Flowing of goods to the terminal sectors was not smooth. SMM expects the spot stainless steel prices to be stable in the short term amid the stainless steel mills' reduction in shipments.
Prices of high-grade NPI dropped last week. Traders still have a certain spot inventory, and they may probably lower their prices to ship in the near future. Short-term NPI prices will be stable with occasional falls. Prices of high-carbon ferrochrome remained stable. Chrome ore supply may still be tight, which may arouse losses and production suspension to ferrochrome plants in south China. It is expected that the prices of ferrochrome can hardly grow significantly in the short term. To sum up, stainless steel prices were mainly dragged down by high inventory. SMM expected that the prices of the SS contract will move rangebound this week.


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