The game between macro expectations and weak fundamentals, in August, domestic nickel prices showed an overall volatile pattern, with prices rising first and then falling, repeatedly fluctuating and falling back. According to the monitoring of the commodity market analysis system of Shengyi Society, on August 29th, spot electrolytic nickel was reported at 122516 yuan/ton, a slight increase of 1.13% for the whole month, but still a year-on-year decrease of 6.97%. Market long and short factors are intertwined, with macroeconomic policy expectations and loose liquidity providing support, while high inventory and weak actual demand limit the upward space for prices.
| Gamma-PGA (gamma polyglutamic acid) |
1、 Price Trend Review
At the beginning of the month (8.1-8.8): Nickel prices first rose and then remained stagnant, with spot prices reported at 122316 yuan/ton, a weekly increase of 0.96%. Market sentiment is influenced by macroeconomic policy expectations, but lacks clear drivers of fundamentals.
Mid month (8.9-8.15): Nickel prices surged and fell back, reaching 121850 yuan/ton, with a weekly increase of 0.58%. At the beginning of the week, the expected interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve and the temporary suspension of tariffs between China and the United States pushed up the price, but high inventory and weak demand for stainless steel led to a decline.
At the end of the month (8.16-8.29), nickel prices fluctuated and weakened before rebounding, ultimately reaching 122516 yuan/ton. Powell’s dovish remarks, favorable domestic policies, and the weakening of the US dollar jointly drove a rebound, but the demand side still showed weakness.
2、 Macro factors: intertwining long and short, expectations dominate
Overseas macro environment:
The weak economic data in the United States, significantly lower than expected non farm employment, rising unemployment rate, and strengthened expectations of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates (the market expects a 25 basis point rate cut in September and December respectively).
The fluctuation of the US dollar index has intensified, rising first and then falling, affecting the pressure and rebound of nickel prices.
The United States has imposed tariffs on multiple countries, escalated global trade frictions and met with Russia, eased geopolitical tensions, and alternately affected market sentiment.
Domestic policy support:
Policies such as trade in of consumer goods and equipment renewal continued to advance, and the Ministry of Finance allocated 69 billion yuan of special treasury bond funds.
The State Council meeting emphasized the expansion of domestic demand, and the Ministry of Commerce proposed measures to promote service exports and boost market confidence.
The industrial data is stable, with a year-on-year increase of 5.7% in the added value of industries above designated size in July, but the direct impact on nickel prices is limited.
3、 Supply and demand fundamentals: high inventory and weak demand suppress prices
Supply side:
Global nickel inventories remain high, with LME inventories increasing to 209676 tons and Shanghai nickel inventories increasing to 21905 tons, indicating an unchanged pattern of oversupply.
The price of nickel ore in Indonesia has slightly increased, while the price of low-grade ore in the Philippines has decreased due to an increase in shipping volume.
Demand side:
Stainless steel field: Production in August increased by 2.29% month on month, but still decreased by 1.64% year-on-year, with slow destocking and cautious terminal procurement. On August 29th, the benchmark price of stainless steel in Shengyi Society was 13075.00 yuan/ton, a slight decrease of 0.04% from early August, indicating a strong wait-and-see sentiment in the market.
In the field of new energy, the production of ternary precursors increased by 5.71% month on month, but the growth rate is expected to slow down to 5.4% in August, and the marginal demand growth has weakened. The spot market sees an increase in demand purchases at low prices, but overall transactions are mainly wait-and-see, with insufficient sustainability.
4、 Future prospects
In the short term, nickel prices will still be affected by both macro expectations and weak fundamentals
Supporting factors: The expected increase in interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, the weakening of the US dollar, the continued strength of domestic policies, and the approaching traditional peak season of “Golden September and Silver October” may bring bottom support and temporary rebound.
Suppressing factors: high global inventory, weak demand for stainless steel, slowing growth in new energy, and uncertainty in trade frictions will limit the upward space for prices.
Overall judgment: Nickel prices are expected to continue their volatile pattern, and breakthroughs will depend on clearer policy signals or fundamental improvements, such as inventory depletion and significant demand recovery.
| http://www.lubonchem.com/ |