1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant information provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - The price of coking coal is expected to weaken in the short - term due to limited supply release, cautious downstream purchasing, and weak downstream profits. The overall procurement mentality is weak, but low - level inventory may limit the decline [2]. - The price of coke is also expected to be weak in the short - term. With stable or increasing supply, slow sales, and the influence of falling raw material costs and weak steel prices, the supply - demand situation is further relaxed [6]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs Daily Views - Coking Coal - **Fundamentals**: Some mines have limited production or stopped production after completing annual tasks, resulting in limited supply. Downstream and traders are cautious, affecting coal sales. The online auction market shows a slowdown, and the overall price is weakening; bearish [2]. - **Basis**: The spot market price is 1140, and the basis is 8, indicating that the spot is at a premium to the futures; bullish [2]. - **Inventory**: The total sample inventory of coking coal is 1957 tons, a decrease of 21 tons from last week; bullish [2]. - **Market Chart**: The 20 - day line is upward, and the price is above the 20 - day line; bullish [3]. - **Main Position**: The main net position of coking coal is short, and the short position is decreasing; bearish [3]. - **Expectation**: Downstream profits are poor, and the enthusiasm for production increase is low. There will be no large - scale replenishment in the short - term, and the price is expected to be weak [2]. Daily Views - Coke - **Fundamentals**: Some coking coal prices are falling, giving coking enterprises certain profits. Coking enterprises maintain their previous production levels, and supply is stable or increasing. However, downstream steel mills' purchasing willingness is low, and traders are on the sidelines. Coke inventory is accumulating; bearish [6]. - **Basis**: The spot market price is 1610, and the basis is - 136, indicating that the spot is at a discount to the futures; bearish [6]. - **Inventory**: The total sample inventory of coke is 858 tons, a decrease of 1 ton from last week; bullish [6]. - **Market Chart**: The 20 - day line is upward, and the price is above the 20 - day line; bullish [6]. - **Main Position**: The main net position of coke is long, and the long position is increasing; bullish [6]. - **Expectation**: Coking enterprises' production enthusiasm is still high, and inventory continues to accumulate. With falling raw material costs and weak steel prices, the supply - demand situation is further relaxed, and the price is expected to be weak [6]. Price - On December 24, 2025, the prices of most port metallurgical coke varieties showed a downward trend. For example, the price of quasi - first - class metallurgical coke from Shanxi in some ports decreased by 20, while a few varieties such as the dry - quenched quasi - first - class metallurgical coke in Langhui increased by 50 [9]. Inventory - **Port Inventory**: Coking coal port inventory is 295 tons, a decrease of 0.1 tons from last week; coke port inventory is 195.1 tons, an increase of 1 ton from last week [18]. - **Independent Coking Enterprise Inventory**: Independent coking enterprises' coking coal inventory is 819.3 tons, a decrease of 69.2 tons from last week; coke inventory is 42.5 tons, an increase of 3.5 tons from last week [22]. - **Steel Mill Inventory**: Steel mills' coking coal inventory is 803.8 tons, an increase of 4.3 tons from last week; coke inventory is 626.7 tons, a decrease of 13.3 tons from last week [27]. Other Data - **Coking Oven Capacity Utilization**: The capacity utilization rate of 230 independent coking enterprises nationwide is 74.48% [40]. - **Average Profit per Ton of Coke**: The average profit per ton of coke of 30 independent coking plants nationwide is 25 yuan [44].

Market Trends - On December 18, coking coal and coke prices rebounded significantly, with the near-month contract JM2601 rising by 4.69%, the main contract JM2605 increasing by 6.07%, and the main coke contract J2601 up by 5.39% [2] Fundamental Data Supply Side - This week, the output of premium coal and raw coal from sample mines was 757,500 tons and 1,927,000 tons, respectively, showing a slight increase. The operating rate of premium coal mines rose by 1.31% to 86.62% [5] - The average daily output of premium coal from sample washing plants was 272,900 tons, a slight decrease of 630 tons [6] - The average daily output of coke from independent coking plants was 639,800 tons, with a capacity utilization rate of 73.16%, both showing a slight decline [6] Demand Side - The average daily output of molten iron from sample steel mills decreased by 31,000 tons to 2,292,000 tons, with a slight decline in blast furnace capacity utilization [6] - The profitability of sample steel mills was reported at 35.93%, which has decreased again [6] Inventory - The inventory of premium coal at sample mines was 2,727,700 tons, showing a slight increase of 174,600 tons [6] - The inventory of coking coal at independent coking plants was 10,373,000 tons, with an available days inventory of 12.19 days, both showing a slight increase [6] Market Sentiment - The recent rebound in coking coal prices is attributed more to market sentiment and short-sellers taking profits rather than fundamental improvements [7] - The expectation of high-quality coking coal supply tightening is driven by the new standards for clean and efficient coal utilization issued by the National Development and Reform Commission [8] - Despite the rebound, the overall market sentiment remains cautious due to the potential for weak demand and the impact of imported coal [9][10]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The steel industry is currently in a state of weak supply - demand balance, with potential for production reduction in the future. The coal - coke market has experienced marginal weakening in supply - demand, and coal prices may face downward pressure in November but with limited decline. The iron ore market has a weak fundamental situation, and inventory is expected to continue to accumulate [6][39][94]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Steel - **Supply**: This week, the molten iron output stopped falling and rose slightly to 236.88wt (+2.66). The daily consumption of scrap steel remained stable, slightly lower than the same period last year. In the future, the overall production level tends to be reduced, and the molten iron output may gradually decline in the fourth quarter, with a possible slow slope. Some steel mills have production reduction plans in December [6]. - **Demand**: Seasonal steel demand is gradually slowing down on a weekly basis, and the steel demand data has started to weaken. This year's demand shows characteristics of rigid demand support, occasional speculative demand impulses, overall light demand, and rigid external demand. There is buying support when prices fall, but there is no driving force for price increases [6]. - **Inventory**: The inventory of five major steel products is being depleted, but the absolute inventory level is higher than the seasonal average. The overall supply - demand of the five major steel products is weak on a weekly basis. The inventory depletion is slow, which puts pressure on production reduction [6]. - **Basis/Spread**: This week, the basis of both hot - rolled and rebar decreased. As of Friday, the basis of rb2601 in the East China region (Hangzhou) was 97, a weekly decrease of 9; the basis of hc2601 in the East China region (Shanghai) was 4, a weekly decrease of 11 [6]. - **Profit**: The immediate profit of the long - process is meager, and most electric furnaces are in the red. The profitability rate of steel mills has fallen below 39%, and the weekly decline has slowed down [6]. - **Valuation**: The basis of hot - rolled coils is slightly better than that of rebar. The production profit of steel mills is meager, and the industrial relative valuation is still not high [6]. - **Macro and Risk Appetite**: The next macro - observation period is after early December. In the short term, the macro - expectation may be in a vacuum [6]. - **Investment View**: Adopt a wait - and - see approach. Observe and track industrial contradictions. In the future, the decline in steel production is the main industrial logic. Wait for the implementation of the production reduction logic [6]. - **Trading Strategy**: Unilateral: Wait and see. Arbitrage: None for now. Spot - futures: Pay attention to the positive arbitrage opportunity of hot - rolled coil spot - futures [6]. 3.2 Coking Coal and Coke - **Demand**: Steel demand continues to decline seasonally. This week, the apparent demand of five major steel products was 860.60 (-6.33), and the output was 834.38 (-22.36). The molten iron output has rebounded temporarily, but the profitability rate of steel mills is still falling, and it is expected that the molten iron output will continue to decline [39]. - **Coking Coal Supply**: Domestic coal mine production has recovered, and there is still an expectation of production increase in the short term. Mongolian coal customs clearance remains at a high level, and the quotation of trading enterprises has been lowered. The quotation of overseas coal has回调 [39]. - **Coke Supply**: Coke supply has decreased. This week, the daily average coke output was 109.2 (-0.5), and the coking profit was - 34 (-12). After the fourth round of price increase of coke was implemented on Friday, the coking profit has been repaired [39]. - **Inventory**: The inventory of coal mines continues to decline, but the decline has narrowed. The coke inventory is relatively healthy, and the whole - link inventory is being depleted [39]. - **Basis/Spread**: After the fourth round of price increase of coke was implemented, the warehouse - receipt cost was over 1750, and the port trade quotation has fallen in advance. The near - month contracts are at a certain discount [39]. - **Profit**: The profitability rate of steel mills is 38.96% (-0.87%), and the coking profit is - 34 (-12) [39]. - **Summary**: This week, there have been more macro - disturbances, and the black - metal sector has fluctuated downward. The supply - demand of coking coal and coke has weakened marginally. Coal prices may face downward pressure in November, but the decline is limited. If the supply remains low, the market may start the next round of replenishment around mid - December [39]. - **Trading Strategy**: Unilateral: Focus on short - term trading, and wait and see for the medium - to - long - term. Arbitrage: Consider partially closing the previously recommended hedging short positions [39]. 3.3 Iron Ore - **Supply**: The current shipping data has rebounded by 51.6 tons per day to 465 tons per day, mainly from Australia. The arrival volume in China has declined. The arrival volume has reached its peak and started to decline [94]. - **Demand**: The molten iron output of steel mills has rebounded to 236.88 tons (+2.66), but the profitability rate of steel mills has continued to decline. The apparent demand of steel products has continued to decline. The inventory pressure is not large in the short term, but the apparent demand will remain at a low level under the influence of seasonal factors [94]. - **Inventory**: The port inventory of 47 ports has increased by 188.71 tons this period. In the future, with stable supply and weakening demand, the inventory will continue to accumulate slightly [94]. - **Profit**: The profit of steel mills has continued to decline, which has begun to affect the molten iron output [94]. - **Valuation**: The short - term valuation is neutral [94]. - **Summary**: Fundamentally, the short - term arrival of iron ore has weakened slightly, but the subsequent shipping has little impact. The inventory will continue to accumulate. The rebound of molten iron output is mainly due to the resumption of production of previously shut - down steel mills. The inventory pressure limits the upward space of prices [94]. - **Investment View**: Neutral [94]. - **Trading Strategy**: Unilateral: Hold short positions. Arbitrage: Wait and see for now [94].