光大期货：1月5日矿钢煤焦日报

Demand - From January to November, national fixed asset investment decreased by 2.6% year-on-year, with a widening decline of 0.9 percentage points compared to January to October. Real estate development investment fell by 15.9%, a decline that expanded by 1.2 percentage points compared to the previous period. Infrastructure investment decreased by 1.1%, with a decline of 1 percentage point compared to January to October. Manufacturing investment grew by 1.9%, a slowdown of 0.8 percentage points compared to January to September, indicating a continued downward trend in investment growth and weak steel demand [1][2] - In December, weekly average demand for rebar was 2.08 million tons, down 7% from November, while hot-rolled coil demand was 3.08 million tons, down 3% from November. Overall, December steel demand was in line with seasonal characteristics, remaining stable year-on-year. In January, demand is expected to weaken significantly due to falling temperatures and the upcoming Spring Festival [1][2] Supply - From January to November, China's crude steel production was 891.67 million tons and 774.05 million tons, down 4% and 2.3% year-on-year, respectively. In November, crude steel and pig iron production were 6.987 million tons and 6.234 million tons, down 10.9% and 8.7% year-on-year. Daily average pig iron production in December was 2.2658 million tons, down from November [2] - In December, production of the five major steel products, including rebar and hot-rolled coil, decreased, with weekly production of the five major products down by 58.9 million tons, rebar down by 21.7 million tons, and hot-rolled coil down by 25.5 million tons. Steel mills continued to reduce production, alleviating supply pressure significantly [2] Inventory - In December, inventory of the five major steel products decreased by 1.428 million tons, with rebar inventory down by 972,000 tons and hot-rolled coil inventory down by 237,000 tons. However, total inventory of the five major products increased year-on-year by 1.4862 million tons, with rebar and hot-rolled coil inventories up by 345,100 tons and 701,300 tons, respectively. The accelerated decline in inventory in December, amid production cuts, alleviated both total inventory and structural contradictions, particularly in rebar, where many regions experienced specification shortages, providing strong support for steel prices [2][3] Exports - In November, China exported 9.98 million tons of steel, an increase of 200,000 tons from October, representing a month-on-month growth of 2.04%. Cumulatively, from January to November, steel exports reached 10.772 million tons, up 6.7% year-on-year. However, starting January 1, 2026, the implementation of the "Steel Product Export License Management" system is expected to increase export pressure, leading to a noticeable decline in export volume [3] Costs - In December, iron ore prices remained firm, while the fourth round of coke price reductions was implemented, leading to improved profitability for long-process steel mills and a narrowing of losses for short-process steel mills. The profitability of 247 steel mills rose to 38.1%, indicating a potential weakening of cost support for steel prices. However, in January, steel mills are expected to replenish raw materials, which may lead to stronger performance in raw material prices compared to finished products [3][4] Summary - The steel market in December faced insufficient contradictions and weak driving forces, resulting in continued narrow fluctuations in steel prices. In January, demand is expected to weaken significantly due to falling temperatures and the upcoming Spring Festival, while supply may increase as steel mill profitability improves. The market is anticipated to shift to a scenario of strong supply and weak demand, with inventory entering a period of accumulation. Additionally, the implementation of the steel product export license system and customs tax verification is expected to lead to a temporary decline in steel exports, increasing supply-demand pressure and potentially leading to weaker steel prices [4]