Due to the significant increase in arrivals from local traders last week, the overall inventory of seamless steel tubes has risen. The enthusiasm for shipment among traders has surged, and with the arrival of the local downstream purchasing cycle, the overall trading situation has been favorable in the past two days. It is reported that with the improvement in trading, local traders' inventories have slightly decreased this week, and steel mill arrivals have also slightly declined. However, most traders are not optimistic about the future market, partly due to the beginning decline in surrounding market prices and the continued drop in raw materials, which has brought a pessimistic mood to the market. Overall, as Ganjia Steel has been limiting production recently, traders face less pressure, but the bearish sentiment in the market remains strong. Many traders believe that if prices in the Handan area continue to fall, local prices may decline again in the later period. Analysts from relevant institutions believe that recently, Baosteel has been the first to introduce the pricing policy for the main steel products in December, reporting "flat" prices for most products, reflecting Baosteel's cautious expectations for the future market. In the remaining few days of this year, the domestic steel market will mainly be characterized by weak stabilization. At the same time, China's steel exports have maintained at a high level recently, so attention should be paid to market movements in the international market, maintaining a certain degree of flexibility in market regulation to prevent unnecessary trade frictions. Traders are naturally reluctant to place large orders, only making small orders for infrequently used specifications; in addition, seamless steel tube factories prioritize sending resources to the local area in North China, where spot prices are higher. Therefore, in the short term, the market support for hot-rolled coil prices in Shanghai is still considerable, but the upward momentum is obviously insufficient, as the overall environment is weakening.
Recently, upstream billet and pipe mill sectors have stabilized, leading to local suppliers offering steady prices. However, shipment volumes remain weak, with inventory levels staying low, typically around 1,000 tons for most traders. Daily shipment volumes are uncertain, and traders are feeling pessimistic due to lackluster downstream purchasing demand. As the weather cools down, traders are increasingly concerned about the market outlook. It is expected that the local seamless steel pipe market will maintain a stable and cautious stance in the short term. Seamless steel pipe traders are relatively calm. Currently, due to tight steel mill supply, some specifications are in short supply, causing traders considerable frustration. The overall market inventory is also weak, and with the current sales off-season in the steel market, end-user demand is slow to pick up, leading to a lack of confidence among traders in the future market. In light of this, it is predicted that the Tianjin cold-rolled steel market may continue to operate cautiously in a stable manner.