According to the data of the international stainless steel forum, in the first quarter of 2015, China's crude stainless steel output was 5.014 million tons, a decrease of 11.6% compared with 5.67 million tons in the previous quarter and 1.4% compared with 5.084 million tons in the same period last year; The output of Asia excluding China was 2.513 million tons, an increase of 14.2% over 2.202 million tons in the previous quarter and 6% over 2.371 million tons in the same period last year.

In the first quarter of 2015, the output of stainless steel crude steel in Western Europe was 2.07 million tons, an increase of 24.8% compared with 1.608 million tons in the previous quarter and a decrease of 7.3% compared with 2.164 million tons in the same period last year; The output of central and Eastern Europe was 64000 tons, unchanged from the previous quarter, down 9.6% from 71000 tons in the same period last year; The output of America was 768000 tons, an increase of 7.2% over 716000 tons in the previous quarter and 14.7% over 670000 tons in the same period last year.

The International Nickel Study Group (insg) reported that the global nickel production in 2014 increased to 1.99 million tons from 1.96 million tons in the previous year, but it is estimated that the production will fall back to 1.96 million tons again in 2015; Global nickel consumption increased from 1.78 million tons in 2013 to 1.87 million tons in 2014, and is expected to increase to 1.94 million tons in 2015. Insg pointed out that the growth rate of nickel consumption in China will slow down, while the growth of stainless steel production in the United States and Europe will drive the moderate growth of nickel consumption.

MEPs International Limited, a British iron and Steel Research Institute, reported that there were some differences in the short-term outlook of the stainless steel market. Among them, the demand of the automobile sector, which has performed relatively well in recent years, is still rising, but the demand of the oil industry and other sectors is relatively weak, and the oil industry is mainly due to the impact of the decline in oil prices on investment willingness.

Many market observers believe that nickel prices will pick up this year, because the surplus of nickel market for many years will turn into shortage, and China's demand for refined nickel is also expected to rise, MCPs said. Nickel miners generally expect a supply shortage in the nickel market in the short and medium term, and nickel prices are expected to rise in the next 12 months. Two thirds of the world's nickel is used to produce stainless steel.