On December 30, stainless steel futures prices continued to weaken, and spot prices remained at low levels. As the year-end off-season deepened, a steel mill in South China further reduced its guidance prices today, with 304 cold-rolled prices lowered by 100 yuan. Market confidence was insufficient, and sentiment for the next month remained pessimistic. In the morning, 304 cold-rolled prices in the Wuxi region were quoted at 12,950-13,200 yuan/mt, 304 hot-rolled prices at 12,400-12,500 yuan/mt, 316L cold-rolled prices at 23,600-23,800 yuan/mt, 201J1 cold-rolled prices at 7,400-7,700 yuan/mt, and 430 cold-rolled prices at 7,150-7,450 yuan/mt. At 10:30 a.m., the SHFE SS2502 contract price was 12,980 yuan/mt, with Wuxi stainless steel spot premiums at 140-390 yuan/mt (spot trimmed edge = mill edge + 170 yuan/mt).
