《黑色》日报-20250819

1. Investment Rating No investment rating for the industry is provided in the reports. 2. Core Views Steel - Recently, rebar production increased and inventory accumulated while apparent demand declined. The rebar basis weakened, but the hot-rolled coil basis was relatively strong. In the medium term, steel mill production remains high, and demand seasonally declines in August, leading to inventory increases. There is an expectation of production cuts in mid - to late August. In the short term, steel mill inventory pressure is not significant, and production cuts can relieve the pressure on the peak season from high production and trader inventory. Steel prices are expected to remain in high - level oscillations, and the market needs to wait for clear peak - season demand. Support levels for hot - rolled coil and rebar are around 3400 yuan/ton and 3150 yuan/ton respectively [1]. Iron Ore - The iron ore 2601 contract showed a volatile downward trend. Fundamentally, global iron ore shipments increased significantly month - on - month, and the arrival volume at 45 ports decreased. Based on recent shipment data, the subsequent average arrival volume is expected to rebound. On the demand side, steel mill profit margins are at a relatively high level, the amount of maintenance decreased slightly, and hot metal production increased slightly at a high level, remaining around 240 million tons per day. However, downstream apparent demand decreased month - on - month. In terms of inventory, port inventory increased slightly, the port clearance volume decreased month - on - month, and steel mill equity ore inventory increased month - on - month. Considering production cuts by Hebei steel mills in the second half of the month, hot metal production in August is expected to decline slightly at a high level, with an average of around 236 million tons per day. Steel mill profits support raw materials, and there is a seesaw effect between coking coal and iron ore. Due to the off - season and weakening steel apparent demand, recent finished steel prices fell again, and iron ore followed suit. It is recommended to short at high prices [3]. Coke - The coke futures showed a volatile downward trend, and prices fluctuated sharply recently. The sixth round of price increases was implemented, and the seventh round started on the 19th. On the supply side, due to the implementation of price increases, coking profits improved, and coke enterprise operations increased slightly. On the demand side, blast furnace hot metal fluctuated at a high level, and downstream demand remained resilient. It is expected that hot metal production will decline slightly in August. In terms of inventory, coking plant inventory continued to decrease, port inventory decreased slightly, and steel mill inventory decreased. Overall inventory is at a medium level. Due to tight supply and demand, downstream steel mills still have restocking needs, and there is still an expectation for the seventh round of coke price increases. Coke futures are at a premium to the spot, providing hedging opportunities [5]. Coking Coal - The coking coal futures showed a volatile downward trend, and prices fluctuated sharply recently. Spot auction prices for some coal types loosened, and Mongolian coal quotes were weakly stable. Domestic coking coal auctions weakened, and after a rapid price increase, downstream purchasing willingness declined, with some coal types experiencing price drops, but overall it remained stable. On the supply side, coal mine operations decreased month - on - month, shipments slowed down, and coal mines started to slightly reduce prices to make concessions, easing market supply and demand. Coal mine de - stocking slowed down significantly. In terms of imports, Mongolian coal prices fluctuated with futures, and due to high prices, downstream users were cautious about restocking. On the demand side, coking operations increased slightly, blast furnace hot metal production fluctuated at a high level, and downstream restocking demand slowed down. Considering production cuts by Hebei steel mills before the parade, hot metal production in August may decline to around 236 million tons per day. In terms of inventory, coal mine de - stocking slowed down, port inventory at the border increased slightly, port inventory decreased, and downstream restocking demand weakened. Overall inventory is at a medium level [5]. 3. Summary by Directory Steel Steel Prices and Spreads - Rebar and hot - rolled coil spot and futures prices generally declined. For example, rebar spot prices in East China, North China, and South China decreased by 10 - 20 yuan/ton, and futures prices decreased by 32 - 34 yuan/ton. Hot - rolled coil spot prices in different regions decreased by 10 yuan/ton, and futures prices decreased by 19 - 20 yuan/ton [1]. Cost and Profit - Steel billet prices decreased by 10 yuan/ton, and plate billet prices remained unchanged. The cost of Jiangsu electric - arc furnace rebar decreased by 1 yuan, and the cost of converter rebar increased by 5 yuan. Profits for hot - rolled coil in different regions showed different changes, with East China increasing by 13 yuan, North China decreasing by 7 yuan, and South China increasing by 3 yuan. Rebar profits in different regions also had different trends [1]. Production and Inventory - Daily average hot metal production increased by 0.2 to 240.7 million tons, a 0.1% increase. The production of five major steel products increased by 2.4 to 871.6 million tons, a 0.3% increase. Rebar production decreased by 0.7 to 220.5 million tons, a 0.3% decrease. Hot - rolled coil production increased by 0.7 to 315.6 million tons, a 0.2% increase. The inventory of five major steel products increased by 40.6 to 1416.0 million tons, a 3.0% increase. Rebar inventory increased by 30.5 to 587.2 million tons, a 5.5% increase. Hot - rolled coil inventory increased by 0.8 to 357.5 million tons, a 0.2% increase [1]. Iron Ore Prices and Spreads - The warehouse receipt costs of various iron ore types decreased slightly, and the 01 - contract basis of various iron ore types increased significantly. The 5 - 9 spread decreased by 3.5 to - 40.0, a 9.6% decrease, the 9 - 1 spread increased by 2.0 to 18.0, a 12.5% increase, and the 1 - 5 spread increased by 1.5 to 22.0, a 7.3% increase [3]. Supply and Demand - Weekly global iron ore shipments increased by 359.9 to 3406.6 million tons, an 11.8% increase. The weekly arrival volume at 45 ports increased by 94.7 to 2476.6 million tons, a 4.0% increase. The monthly national iron ore import volume increased by 782.0 to 10594.8 million tons, an 8.0% increase. The weekly average hot metal production of 247 steel mills increased by 0.3 to 240.7 million tons, a 0.1% increase. The weekly average port clearance volume at 45 ports increased by 12.8 to 334.7 million tons, a 4.0% increase. The monthly national pig iron production decreased by 110.5 to 7080.0 million tons, a 1.5% decrease, and the monthly national crude steel production decreased by 352.4 to 7966.0 million tons, a 4.2% decrease [3]. Inventory - The 45 - port inventory increased by 13.2 to 13819.27 million tons, a 0.1% increase. The imported ore inventory of 247 steel mills increased by 123.1 to 9136.4 million tons, a 1.4% increase. The inventory available days of 64 steel mills increased by 1.0 to 21.0 days, a 5.0% increase [3]. Coke and Coking Coal Prices and Spreads - Coke futures prices declined. The 09 - contract of coke decreased by 1.1%, and the 01 - contract decreased by 1.6%. The 09 - contract of coking coal decreased by 4.2%, and the 01 - contract decreased by 3.5%. The basis of coke and coking coal contracts changed, and spreads between different contracts also changed [5]. Supply and Demand - Coke production: The daily average production of all - sample coking plants increased by 0.3 to 65.4 million tons, a 0.4% increase, and the daily average production of 247 steel mills increased by 0.3 to 240.7 million tons, a 0.1% increase. Coking coal production: Raw coal production decreased by 2.3 to 856.6 million tons, a 0.3% decrease, and clean coal production increased by 0.4 to 439.4 million tons, a 0.14% increase. Coke demand: The hot metal production of 247 steel mills increased by 0.3 to 240.7 million tons, a 0.1% increase [5]. Inventory - Coke inventory: Total coke inventory decreased by 19.7 to 887.4 million tons, a 2.2% decrease. The inventory of all - sample coking plants decreased by 7.2 to 62.5 million tons, a 10.4% decrease, the inventory of 247 steel mills decreased by 9.5 to 609.8 million tons, a 1.54% decrease, and port inventory decreased by 3.0 to 215.1 million tons, a 1.4% decrease. Coking coal inventory: The clean coal inventory of Fenwei coal mines decreased by 0.2 to 111.9 million tons, a 0.1% decrease, the coking coal inventory of all - sample coking plants decreased by 11.0 to 976.9 million tons, a 1.1% decrease, the coking coal inventory of 247 steel mills decreased by 2.9 to 805.8 million tons, a 0.4% decrease, and port inventory decreased by 21.9 to 255.5 million tons, a 7.9% decrease [5].