Information and Statistics Department of China Scrap Steel Utilization Association
Last week, the domestic scrap steel market maintained stable operation, with merchants mostly shipping goods to avoid risks. Steel companies were less willing to purchase scrap steel, but they were more motivated to produce. Compared with the previous week, the average scrap purchase price of key steel companies was the same as that of the previous week. The price of heavy scrap was unchanged, the price of medium scrap was increased by 4 yuan/ton, and the price of aggregate scrap was decreased by 1 yuan/ton.
With the arrival of winter, the rebar market is showing a weak supply and demand situation. At the same time, steel companies are seeing good scrap arrivals and a slight increase in inventory, which has a certain restraint on the rise in scrap prices. However, after two rounds of coke price increases, the cost of molten iron has increased, and the cost-effectiveness of scrap steel production has further improved compared to molten iron production. Moreover, short-process steel companies are currently in a profitable state, with high production enthusiasm, and the operating rate and capacity utilization rate have increased significantly compared with before. The price of scrap steel There is still support. To sum up, it is difficult for scrap steel prices to rise or fall sharply, and the domestic scrap steel market is expected to operate stably and within a narrow range in the short term.
The scrap steel market in East China is operating stably but weakly. There is not much inventory in processing sites, merchants are not willing to stock up on goods, and the arrival of steel companies is acceptable. The purchase price of Nanjing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.’s heavy scrap steel is 2,910 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Shagang heavy scrap steel is 2,970 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Xingcheng Special Steel’s heavy scrap steel is 2,960 yuan/ton; the purchase price of Maanshan Iron and Steel’s heavy scrap steel is 2,720 yuan/ton; Tongling The purchase price of Fuxin heavy scrap steel is 2,960 yuan/ton; the bidding price of Shangang Laigang steel bar briquettes is 3,030 yuan/ton, a decrease of 30 yuan/ton; the base purchase price of Ningbo Iron and Steel’s heavy scrap steel in November is 2,520 yuan/ton.
Scrap steel prices in central China are mixed, and merchants are operating quickly in and out. Some steel companies have winter storage plans, but the reserves have declined compared with last year. The purchase price of heavy scrap steel at Angang is 2,940 yuan/ton; the purchase price of heavy scrap steel at Wugang is 3,100 yuan/ton, an increase of 50 yuan/ton; the purchase price of heavy scrap steel at Hunan Iron and Steel Henggang is 2,640 yuan/ton, a decrease of 20 yuan/ton; The purchase price of Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd.’s low-sulfur briquette scrap is 2,930 yuan/ton.
The scrap steel market in South China continues to fluctuate within a narrow range. Merchants are cautious, with normal imports and exports. Electric arc furnace steel companies are profitable and have high production enthusiasm. The purchase price of Sansteel Minguang’s heavy-duty scrap is 2,920 yuan/ton; the ex-factory price of Shaogang’s heavy-duty second-class scrap is 2,710 yuan/ton excluding tax; and the purchase price of Angang Lianzhong’s first-grade carbon steel scrap is 2,970 yuan/ton.
The scrap steel market in the southwest region is operating stably to strong, market resources are tight, and steel companies are highly motivated to use scrap steel, which is good for scrap steel. The heavy-duty scrap price of Chongqing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. is 2,680 yuan/ton excluding tax; the purchase price of briquette scrap steel of Kunming Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. is 2,810 yuan/ton, which is increased by 100 yuan/ton.
The scrap steel market in the northwest region is operating stably. Merchants are not optimistic about the market outlook and have no plans to stock up on large quantities of goods. The arrival of steel companies is in good condition and inventory has accumulated slightly. The purchasing price of Xining Special Steel’s heavy-duty scrap is 2,807 yuan/ton; the purchasing price of Jiugang’s medium-sized scrap is 2,504 yuan/ton.
The scrap steel market in Northeast China is operating stably for the time being. The scrap steel output is low due to cold weather, the arrival volume at the base is obviously less, and the overall demand from steel companies is average. The purchase price of heavy scrap steel from Linggang is 2,900 yuan/ton; the purchase price of heavy scrap steel from Jianlong Xigang (Yichun area) is 2,740 yuan/ton; the purchase price of heavy scrap steel from Anshan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. is 2,972 yuan/ton; and the purchase price of heavy scrap steel from Fushun Special Steel is 2,740 yuan/ton. 3050 yuan/ton.
Scrap steel prices in North China are generally stable. Affected by environmental factors, steel companies have plans to reduce production. The level of scrap steel arrivals is average, and purchase prices are mostly adjusted within a narrow range based on the arrival volume. The purchasing price of Tianjin Steel Pipe’s heavy-duty second-class scrap is 2,970 yuan/ton; the purchasing price of Shougang Qiangang’s heavy-duty scrap is 3,080 yuan/ton; the purchasing price of Baotou Steel’s medium-sized scrap is 3,080 yuan/ton, an increase of 17 yuan/ton; the purchasing price of HBIS Shigang’s heavy-duty scrap is 3,080 yuan/ton; The price of scrap steel excluding tax is 2,665 yuan/ton.
Stronger Dollar and Profit-Taking Pressure
The combined pressure of a stronger dollar and profit-taking caused London copper to end a seven-day winning streak last week, closing down 0.56%. High copper prices are suppressing downstream demand, while market uncertainty surrounding upcoming holidays intensifies, making price trends difficult to predict. Spot copper is likely to decline today. With the strengthening of the