Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" recommendation for several steel companies, including Hualing Steel, Baosteel, Nanjing Steel, and others in the special steel and pipe sectors [5]. Core Insights - The expansion of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs has put pressure on steel prices, leading to a notable contraction in steel mill profits [5]. - The report highlights that the long-term focus will remain on capacity management, with a combination of market-oriented and administrative measures expected to optimize crude steel supply [5]. - The report indicates that the seasonal decline in steel demand, coupled with a vacuum in supply-side policies, has resulted in a significant narrowing of steel mill profits [5]. Price Trends - As of August 22, 2025, steel prices have decreased, with Shanghai's 20mm HRB400 rebar priced at 3,270 CNY/ton, down 30 CNY/ton from the previous week [3][11]. - The prices for various steel products have shown a downward trend, with hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel also experiencing price reductions [3][11]. Production and Inventory - As of August 22, 2025, the production of five major steel products increased to 8.78 million tons, with total inventory rising by 264,300 tons to 10.1621 million tons [4]. - The apparent consumption of rebar was estimated at 1.948 million tons, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 48,600 tons [4]. Profitability - The report notes a decline in steel profitability, with margins for rebar, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled steel decreasing by 58 CNY/ton, 50 CNY/ton, and 42 CNY/ton respectively [3][5]. Recommendations - The report recommends specific companies for investment, including Hualing Steel, Baosteel, Nanjing Steel in the general steel sector, and Xianglou New Materials, CITIC Special Steel in the special steel sector [5].
美国钢铝关税扩围,钢价有所承压