Stainless Steel Billet Prices Tend to Rise; Price Gap of 201 Scrap Widens to 150 Yuan/Ton After a Drop

June 20th, Foshan Market News: Yesterday, the London nickel price fell by $25 to $17,325 per ton, with a position of 161,908 hands, a transaction of 4,446 hands, and an inventory of 89,562 tons. At 14:31 today, the London nickel showed an upward trend, operating at $17,430 per ton.

Today, the stainless steel spot market quotes can be seen to tighten at lower levels and tentatively increase by 30-50 yuan/ton. In the morning, the quotes from Tsingshan agents were not consistent, mainly due to different discount policies, resulting in a price difference of 50-100 yuan/ton. Some agents of Dingxin 304 narrow strip cold rolling were not less than 13,150 yuan/ton. The market Guangxi narrow strip quotes tend to follow the higher prices, with traders quoting 12,800 yuan/ton, and actual transactions only have a bargaining space of 20-30 yuan/ton, and it is difficult to find low-priced resources later on. In terms of 201, since Tsingshan Steel Mill has not issued new guidance, some of its agents have discounts and others maintain the same prices, so the market sales are flexible. Guangxi narrow strip quotes are mostly 7,800 yuan/ton, and the tax-exempt price is around 7,300 yuan/ton, with a slight rise and fall. As for scrap, the market quotes for 304 scrap are mainly flat; 201 scrap fell by 30-50 yuan/ton, and the price gap has expanded to about 150 yuan/ton.

304 Billet for Tube Making

Today, the quotes from Tsingshan agents still vary, specifically: Dingxin 304 cold-rolled narrow strip 13,100-13,150 yuan/ton, hot-rolled narrow strip 13,200-13,250 yuan/ton; 30478 cold-rolled narrow strip 12,600-12,650 yuan/ton; 304 hot-rolled plate 13,330 yuan/ton.

From the quotes, since some Tsingshan agents did not sell at low prices, the market low-priced resources have tightened. It can be seen that Xunfeng, Jinhai narrow strip quotes are 12,800 yuan/ton with tax, and 11,900 yuan/ton without tax. Some traders who are willing to sell are flexible in the sales process, with a transaction price of 12,780 yuan/ton with tax, with a limited quantity. Some salesmen said that the higher quotes are mainly due to the higher cost of holding resources, and there is a psychological tendency to raise prices. In terms of large plates, Guangqing, Beigang New Materials, and Delong quotes are maintained at 13,300-13,350 yuan/ton with tax, mainly because the Tsingshan agent quotes have not changed, and both buyers and sellers in the market are waiting to transact.

201 Billet for Tube Making

Today, Tsingshan Steel Mill did not have new guidance, and some Tsingshan agents continued to report flat: Dingxin J2-8,000 yuan/ton; J3-8,300 yuan/ton; J1-8,700 yuan/ton; J4-9,300 yuan/ton. Some actual transactions can be discounted by 100 yuan/ton. Other market quotes include: Xunfeng J3, Jinhai J3, Zhongjin J5, Huale J3A quoted at 7,800 yuan/ton with tax, and 7,300 yuan/ton without tax. Beigang New Materials J5/J5D, Baogang D4, Yongda J3E four, and five feet quoted at 7,850-7,950 yuan/ton with tax.

From the quotes, Tsingshan agents still have discount policies, Dingxin resources are quoted at 7,900 yuan/ton with tax, and the market quotes for Guangxi narrow strip resources are stable and flexible, with a slight upward trend in the low position. For example, some traders have adjusted the tax-exempt price from 7,270 yuan/ton to 7,300 yuan/ton, and the quoted price with tax is mostly 7,800 yuan/ton, with actual transactions negotiated. In terms of large plates, the price difference for Beigang New Materials resources is about 50 yuan/ton, with J5 material quoted at 7,850-7,900 yuan/ton, with fluctuations.

Scrap Stainless Steel

Compared with yesterday, today's early market quotes for 201 are mostly flat, with some falling by 30-50 yuan/ton, and some by 100 yuan/ton; 304 quotes are mainly flat, with the current mainstream quote range: 201 new material at 5,600-5,750 yuan/ton; 304 new material at 10,150-10,250 yuan/ton.

Today, the market still has a falling price atmosphere, but the decline is mainly reflected in 201 scrap, with a drop of 30-50 yuan/ton, and the price gap has expanded to about 150 yuan/ton; for 304 scrap, the market's rise and fall atmosphere is not obvious. Although the steel strip spot price has an upward performance, merchants are reluctant to update and adjust quotes due to cost and profit considerations, mostly maintaining yesterday's prices to receive goods. Downstream inquiries mostly hold the goods and watch, and although merchants actively call for goods, the market's overall transaction speed is slow due to the low willingness to raise prices, with specific transactions mostly seen in sporadic orders, and mostly inclined to high-level buyers.