Weekly overview of the steel raw material market (February 13-February 20)

Last week (February 13 to February 20), China steel raw material market prices rose steadily, and iron ore prices rose sharply; coke prices were generally stable. Although some steel mills proposed to lower their coke purchase prices, coking companies did not Accepted, the price of coke is unlikely to fall in the short term. The market price of coking coal is generally stable, and in the case of relatively good resource supply, it may stabilize and fall in the later period; the overall scrap market is operating strongly; the prices of main ferroalloys are stable and rise. The price changes of the main varieties are as follows:
　　

Imported iron ore prices have risen sharply

Last week, the price of imported iron ore rose sharply. On the one hand, the overall steel price rose sharply. During the Spring Festival, iron ore was consumed and some steel mill inventories declined, and purchases will continue in the later period; on the other hand, the US dollar monetary policy is loose and global commodities Prices are rising, and market participants still have expectations of iron ore prices. In the first week after the Spring Festival, most steel mills still focus on digesting their inventory, and there will be appropriate purchases in the near future. However, the overall increase in foreign mine shipments will appropriately reduce the expected increase. The industry considers that the iron ore market price will continue to be relatively strong. run.
　　
Stable prices in the mainstream market of coke
During the Spring Festival holiday and after the holiday, domestic coke prices remained stable in the mainstream market, and port prices were slightly lowered. Affected by the festival, transportation in some areas was restricted, and the inventory of coke enterprises increased slightly, especially in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. Sales pressure increased. Traders temporarily wait and see that the supply of coke enterprises directly flows into steel mills, resulting in a significant increase in metallurgical coke inventories of steel mills in North China, and some steel mills have controlled the arrival volume. A few steel mills in Shanxi have sent a letter requesting that the price of metallurgical coke be reduced by 100 yuan/ton, but the coking company has not accepted it, and some coking companies have also sent a letter to raise the price of metallurgical coke by 100 yuan/ton, and steel coke companies have begun to compete. The inventories of southern steel mills have not risen significantly, and the holiday inventory of the leading steel mills in East China has dropped to a historical low. Recently, the inventory has been increased to about 11 days, but there is no adjustment plan for the purchase price of metallurgical coke. Due to the sharp increase in steel prices after the holiday, the operating rate of steel mills’ blast furnaces is relatively high and the demand is relatively good.
　　

Stable prices in the mainstream market of coking coal

After the Spring Festival, prices in the mainstream domestic coking coal market have stabilized, with loosening in some areas. Most coal mines resume production one after another, and some plan to resume work and production in the near future. The mainstream acceptance price of low-sulfur coking coal in Linfen, Shanxi is 1,500 yuan/ton to 1,520 yuan/ton, down 30 yuan/ton to 50 yuan/ton from the previous high; the price of individual coal mines (Mt14) fell sharply in the early period, and after the inventory fell, it rose by 50 yuan /Ton to RMB 1,450/ton in cash.