镍与不锈钢日评：成本支撑松动，不锈钢偏弱震荡-20251017

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No industry investment rating is provided in the report. 2. Core Viewpoints - Nickel: On October 16, the nickel market showed a complex situation. The nickel futures had certain price changes, and the spot market had a fair trading volume with a narrowing basis premium. The supply side had stable nickel ore prices, increased arrivals last week, and rising inventories. Nickel - iron plants had deeper losses, and production schedules in October increased both in China and Indonesia. The production schedule of domestic electrolytic nickel in October also increased, and export profits decreased. The demand side saw an increase in ternary production, an increase in stainless - steel plant production schedules, and stable alloy and electroplating demand. In terms of inventory, LME inventory increased, while SHFE inventory decreased, and social inventory increased. Overall, the nickel fundamentals are weak with inventory pressure, but the valuation is low, so nickel prices are expected to fluctuate at a low level [1][2]. - Stainless steel: On October 16, the stainless - steel futures had a range - bound movement, and the spot market trading was weak with a narrowing basis premium. The SHFE inventory decreased, and the 300 - series social inventory increased last week. In terms of supply, the stainless - steel production schedule in October increased, but the 300 - series production schedule decreased. The demand side had weak terminal demand. The cost side saw a decline in high - nickel pig iron and high - carbon ferrochrome prices. Overall, the fundamentals are loose, inventory is piling up, and cost support is weakening, so stainless - steel prices are expected to fluctuate weakly [1][2]. 3. Summary by Related Information Nickel - related Data - Futures Prices: The closing prices of SHFE nickel near - month, consecutive - one, consecutive - two, and consecutive - three contracts on October 16 were 121,270 yuan/ton, 121,420 yuan/ton, 121,660 yuan/ton, and 121,900 yuan/ton respectively, showing an upward trend compared to the previous day. The trading volume of the active SHFE nickel contract was 67,146 lots (- 16,615), and the open interest was 66,228 lots (- 2,453). The LME 3 - month nickel official price was 15,150 US dollars/ton (- 60), the electronic - disk closing price was 15,230 US dollars/ton (+ 80), and the on - site closing price was 15,267 US dollars/ton (+ 73). The trading volume was 5,500 lots (- 709) [2]. - Spot Prices: The average price of SMM 1 electrolytic nickel was 122,150 yuan/ton (- 150), the average price of 1 Jinchuan nickel was 123,400 yuan/ton (- 100), and the average price of 1 imported nickel (Russian nickel) was 121,350 yuan/ton (- 100) [2]. - Inventory: The SHFE nickel inventory decreased by 84 tons, the LME registered warehouse receipts were 0 tons, and the total LME nickel inventory was 250,344 tons (+ 3,588). The SMM Chinese port nickel ore total inventory was 971 (in ten thousand wet tons), the SMM Shanghai bonded - area nickel inventory was 3,100 tons, and the SMM pure nickel social inventory was 43,694 tons (+ 2,866) [2]. Stainless - steel - related Data - Futures Prices: The closing prices of SHFE stainless - steel near - month, consecutive - one, consecutive - two, and consecutive - three contracts on October 16 were 12,585 yuan/ton, 12,615 yuan/ton, 12,700 yuan/ton, and 12,750 yuan/ton respectively. The trading volume of the active SHFE stainless - steel contract was 125,870 lots (+ 12,654), and the open interest was 201,245 lots (+ 7,755) [2]. - Spot Prices: The average price of 304/2B coil - trimmed (Wuxi) was 13,550 yuan/ton (unchanged), the average price of 304/No.1 coil (Wuxi) was 12,700 yuan/ton (- 50), the average price of 316L/2B coil (Wuxi) was 25,500 yuan/ton (unchanged), and the average price of 316L/NO.1 coil (Wuxi) was 3,750 yuan/ton (unchanged) [2]. - Inventory: The SHFE stainless - steel inventory was 83,231 tons (- 776), and the 300 - series social inventory last week was 619,400 tons (+ 33,900) [2]. Industry News In Indonesia, the selling prices of domestic mining products, especially those currently prohibited from export, are still lower than the Mineral Reference Price (HPM). This situation puts mining practitioners in a dilemma, especially with limited smelter capacity in the country. The mining enterprises have weak bargaining power, and there is a mismatch between the actual transaction price and the tax - paying obligation. So far, the government has not imposed sanctions on smelters [2]. Trading Strategies - Nickel: It is recommended to take a wait - and - see approach [2]. - Stainless steel: It is recommended to short at high prices [2].