Aluminum Prices Plunged Sharply, with No Significant Uptick in Market Purchasing Sentiment [SMM Spot Aluminum Midday Commentary]

SMM March 10:

In early trading, SHFE aluminum 2603 moved lower, with the price center dropping sharply from the previous trading day. Today, purchasing sentiment was not significantly driven by aluminum prices; buying strength remained weak, and buying interest was low. Today, mainstream transaction prices were concentrated at discounts of 10 yuan/mt to premiums of 20 yuan/mt. Today, the east China market shipments sentiment index was 3.19, down 0.03 MoM; the buying sentiment index was 2.53, up 0.04 MoM.

Today, SHFE aluminum fell sharply in early trading, and purchasing sentiment was not significantly driven by aluminum prices; buying strength remained weak, and buying interest was low. Today, mainstream transaction prices were concentrated at discounts of 130 yuan/mt to discounts of 120 yuan/mt against the SHFE aluminum 03 contract. Today, the central China market shipments sentiment index was 2.58, down 0.12 MoM; the buying sentiment index was 2.42, up 0.02 MoM.

Inventory side, today aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption areas increased 13,000 mt MoM, with the inventory buildup mainly coming from Gongyi and Guangdong. In the short term, after the Chinese New Year, aluminum ingots continued seasonal inventory buildup; affected by bullish sentiment, premiums were expected to remain on a narrowing trend.