To: carranza2 who wrote (186596 ) 4/20/2022 1:24:28 AM From: TobagoJack Respond to of 217734 Re <<… conflict … >> Unsure what below might be all about, but many can read all sorts of underlying currents into the scripting per narrative-flow. Care for the environment on the one hand Strategic export of inflation on the other Tactical rehearsal on the third Diplomatic messaging on the fourth hand Great-good / common-prosperity inflation-fight on the … … pretty soon one runs out of hands Whatever the case, i doubtful of Bloomberg’s take re << improvisation >>, because China China China rarely tee-up improvisation. The proper Chinese phraseology for improvise actually is a four character grouping that literally means “depending on the opportunity make corresponding changes [to plan] ”, as opposed to ‘wing it ’. As far as the Bloomberg reported China export of copper (scroll below to near-end), that be simply ‘buy low sell high ’. Either taking advantage of inflation or fighting inflation. Unsure which.bloomberg.com China’s Sudden Pledge to Cut Steel Output Upends Carbon Policy Stimulus will likely require rise in production later in year Nation’s copper exports increase to the highest since 2016 April 20, 2022, 12:36 PM GMT+8 China’s promise to cut steel output for a second year looks like a bit of improvisation by the government, as a resurgent virus sweeps through the economy and chokes production in any case. Beijing’s sudden pledge on Tuesday comes barely two months after it extended the steel industry’s deadline to peak its emissions by five years to 2030. The laxer stance was adopted after production crashed in the second half of 2021 because of the government’s insistence on reducing output from the prior year’s record in service of its climate goals. The steel industry accounts for about 15% of China’s emissions, and the new policy seemed to indicate that the government was preparing the ground for carbon-intensive spending to support growth. It also suggested a broader reassessment of plans to decarbonize the economy, with more priority being placed on reining-in inflation and preventing damaging shortages of key materials in the wake of last year’s power crisis. But the slowdown in the economy, driven in large part by the spread of the virus and the government’s crackdown on the metals-intensive property sector, has left steel output in the first quarter languishing more than 10% below last year’s levels. Further weakness is likely in April after a new round of lockdowns in the production hub of Tangshan. The China Iron & Steel Association said mills have been asked to cut production amid limited demand . That may hold true now, but it won’t be the case once stimulus is unleashed to counter the worst effects of omicron on growth. The bet seems to be that there’s enough headroom to raise steel output in the second half without busting the cap on production. As Kallanish Commodities Ltd. notes: “Crude steel production, and demand, have started 2022 weakly but could recover. This is the opposite to the trend in 2021.” That calculation is helping to buoy iron ore prices, which are also drawing support from supply constraints after the world’s top two miners both reported lower production in their quarterly updates. It also raises the intriguing possibility that China’s emissions from steel actually peaked during record production of 2020 -- a whole decade before the new deadline set for the industry, and the deadline for the economy as a whole. Today’s ChartA global supply squeeze following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has lifted China’s copper exports to the highest since 2016. Usually known as a massive importer of metals, the country sent over 100,000 tons of copper abroad last month, nearly double February’s amount. China’s aluminum exports also surged to a record last quarter as overseas markets tightened due to the war.Markets Latest Copper -0.6% in Shanghai Crude oil -2.4% in Shanghai Aluminum -0.6% in Shanghai Nickel -0.5% in Shanghai Iron ore +3.5% in Dalian Steel rebar +2.6% in Shanghai Thermal coal -1.5% in Zhengzhou Coking coal +1.9% in Dalian Live hogs +0.8% in Dalian Corn +0.2% in Dalian
On The Wire China Trying to Ensure Food Supplies Amid Challenges: Officials Solar May Generate Half of World’s Power by 2050, Trina CEO Says China to Sign Forced Labor Treaties as Xinjiang Scrutiny Grows CHINA REACT : Loan Rates Steady But PBOC Still in Easing Cycle Sungrow Outlook , Target Cut After Earnings Miss: Street Wrap China March Gasoline Output Rose 10.8% Y/y to 13.7m Tons Several Chinese Cities Ease Housing Loans, Down Payment: Daily SAIC Motor Resumes Production at Shanghai Plant: Securities News Cnooc Expects 1Q Net Income to Rise 62%-89% Y/y Cnooc Says A-Shares to Start Trading in Shanghai April 21 China’s Refined -Copper Output Growth May Slow to 4% This YearThe Week AheadThursday, April 21 BHP quarterly production report, 08:30 SydneyChina Photovoltaic Academic Conference, online, day 2Boao Forum in Hainan, day 2EARNINGS: CATLUSDA weekly crop export sales, 08:30 ESTFriday, April 22 Bloomberg China April economic survey, 10:00China weekly iron ore port stockpilesShanghai exchange weekly commodities inventory, ~15:30China Photovoltaic Academic Conference, online, day 3Boao Forum in Hainan, day 3EARNINGS: Huayou Cobalt, Sany HeavySaturday, April 23 China Steel Development Forum in Bejing— With assistance by Jason Rogers Sent from my iPad