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Brief Date: Wednesday, 9 September 2026Data as of: Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Nickel bounces while NPI and India stay cautious

Market Thesis

LME 3M nickel rose for the 8 September session, while high-grade NPI and Indonesia FOB remained lower. India stayed firmer through bright-bar and scrap direction, while the DGTR oral hearing is scheduled for 11 September 2026 at 3:30 PM IST.

Trade Intelligence Notice: Indicative trade intelligence for industrial planning. Every figure carries its actual verified source and date. For firm contract pricing on specific coils, circles, or sheets, contact our desk.

China & Global Inputs

SHFE stainless most-traded contract closeSS-MOST
RMB 13,885/mt

7 September SMM stainless close.

Up RMB 30 from 4 Sep close; down RMB 5 from 31 Aug closeSMM, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/es/newscontent/104101310-smm-stainless-steel-daily-review-stainless-steel-futures-drive-spot-price-recovery-september-peak-season-demand-weak-insufficient-upward-momentum | SMM, 4 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/id/newscontent/104098710-smm-tinjauan-harian-baja-antikarat-rebound-ss-futures-terbatas-penurunan-spot-baja-antikarat-mereda-tetapi-transaksi-tetap-biasa-saja | SMM, 31 Aug 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104088818-smm-stainless-steel-daily-review-futures-extended-the-weak-trend-and-broke-below-support-spot-stainless-steel-prices-held-steady-with-sluggish-trading
LMEselect nickel 3-monthNI-3M
USD 16,755/mt

8 September session.

Up USD 65 from previous closeSMM LME page, 8 Sep session - https://www-old.metal.com/Nickel/LME_NI_3M
China 8-12% high-grade NPI daily ex-works assessmentNPI-CN-8-12
CNY 1,100.5/mtu

7 September SMM daily assessment.

Down CNY 4 from the previous FridaySMM, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104101557-smm-analysis-golden-september-nickel-pig-iron-prices-slide-as-chinas-mills-delay-restocking
Indonesia NPI FOB indexNPI-ID-FOB
USD 142.7/mtu

7 September SMM FOB index.

Down USD 0.7 from the previous FridaySMM, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104101557-smm-analysis-golden-september-nickel-pig-iron-prices-slide-as-chinas-mills-delay-restocking
China 300-series distributor social inventoryCN-300-SOCIAL-STOCK
581.9 kt
Key Inventory SignalInventory dated 3 September.
Down 6 kt week-on-weekSMM, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104101557-smm-analysis-golden-september-nickel-pig-iron-prices-slide-as-chinas-mills-delay-restocking
High-grade NPI port stocksCN-NPI-PORT-STOCK
35.3 kt Ni
Key Inventory Signal+59.7% from 22.1 kt Ni on 13 August.
Up from 22.1 kt Ni on 13 Aug (+59.7%)SMM, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104101557-smm-analysis-golden-september-nickel-pig-iron-prices-slide-as-chinas-mills-delay-restocking

India Domestic

India stainless bright-bar export price directionIN-SS-BRIGHT-BAR-FOB
Firm WoW
Key Inventory SignalNumeric benchmark values are subscriber-gated.
BigMint stainless insights, 8 Sep 2026 - https://www.bigmint.co/insights/ferrous/stainless-steel
India stainless scrap price directionIN-SS-SCRAP
Inched up WoW

Numeric benchmark values are subscriber-gated.

BigMint stainless insights, 4 Sep 2026 - https://www.bigmint.co/insights/scrap-recycling/stainless-steel
India H1 stainless productionIN-SS-H1
2.16 million t

H1CY26 Indian stainless production.

Up from 2.05 million t (+5.4%) year-on-yearBigMint, 8 Sep 2026 - https://www.bigmint.co/insights/detail/global-stainless-steel-production-rises-5-y-o-y-in-h1cy26-asia-drives-growth-787484
Desk Outlook

Market Read: Outlook & Risk Balance

Market BiasSoft-to-flat landed-cost pressure with delayed Indian pass-through.
Horizon2-4 weeks
PaceGradual
Analytical Reasoning

High-grade NPI and Indonesia FOB remain lower, port material has rebuilt, and SMM says mills are pausing procurement. LME 3M nickel moved up for the 8 September session, while BigMint's Indian stainless directions remain firmer.

Key Factors to Watch
  • SHFE stainless daily close
  • China 300-series social inventory
  • LME 3M nickel
  • China 8-12% high-grade NPI
  • Indonesia NPI FOB
  • DGTR oral hearing on 11 September 2026
Step-Change Risk

A new applicable duty outcome in the DGTR cold-rolled 300/400-series case or a material Indonesian supply disruption could override the gradual path.

Statutory & Trade Defense

Policy Watch

DGTR oral hearing for cold-rolled stainless 300/400-series case

Scheduled for Friday, 11 September 2026 at 3:30 PM IST

The hearing covers China PR, Indonesia and Vietnam. The individual case page lists Oral Hearing as its latest timeline entry and shows no preliminary or final determination.

DGTR home notice, current as of 9 Sep 2026 - https://dgtr.gov.in/en | DGTR case page, current as of 9 Sep 2026 - https://www.dgtr.gov.in/en/anti-dumping-cases/anti-dumping-investigation-concerning-imports-cold-rolled-flat-products

Source Attribution: SMM stainless daily review, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/es/newscontent/104101310-smm-stainless-steel-daily-review-stainless-steel-futures-drive-spot-price-recovery-september-peak-season-demand-weak-insufficient-upward-momentum | SMM stainless daily review, 4 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/id/newscontent/104098710-smm-tinjauan-harian-baja-antikarat-rebound-ss-futures-terbatas-penurunan-spot-baja-antikarat-mereda-tetapi-transaksi-tetap-biasa-saja | SMM stainless daily review, 31 Aug 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104088818-smm-stainless-steel-daily-review-futures-extended-the-weak-trend-and-broke-below-support-spot-stainless-steel-prices-held-steady-with-sluggish-trading | SMM LME page, 8 Sep session - https://www-old.metal.com/Nickel/LME_NI_3M | SMM NPI analysis, 7 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104101557-smm-analysis-golden-september-nickel-pig-iron-prices-slide-as-chinas-mills-delay-restocking | SMM Nickel Flash, 8 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104103735-steel-mills-pause-procurement-amid-sluggish-market-high-grade-npi-smelters-resist-low-prices | SMM stainless flash, 9 Sep 2026 - https://news.metal.com/newscontent/104104217-smm-stainless-steel-flash-eu-stainless-slab-imports-bypass-tariffs-arcelormittal-ends-duisburg-steelmaking | BigMint stainless insights - https://www.bigmint.co/insights/ferrous/stainless-steel | BigMint stainless public price table - https://www.bigmint.co/public/stainlesssteel | BigMint global stainless production report, 8 Sep 2026 - https://www.bigmint.co/insights/detail/global-stainless-steel-production-rises-5-y-o-y-in-h1cy26-asia-drives-growth-787484 | DGTR home - https://dgtr.gov.in/en | DGTR case page - https://www.dgtr.gov.in/en/anti-dumping-cases/anti-dumping-investigation-concerning-imports-cold-rolled-flat-products

Published by Metal Dock B2B Trade Intelligence Desk  ·  Wazirpur Industrial Area, Delhi

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