Zinc Price Center Rose, with Mixed Demand Performance Across Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Segments [SMM Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Weekly Review]

This week, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy recorded 51.8%, up 0.2 percentage points WoW. Inventory side, the center of zinc prices moved higher than last week. Die-casting zinc alloy enterprises saw more restocking on dips last week, and the procurement pace slowed somewhat during the week, leading raw material inventory to decline. As for finished product inventories, terminal hardware enterprises also restocked more last week, while demand weakened this week, driving an increase in finished product inventories at alloy plants. This week, die-casting zinc alloy operating rates continued to fluctuate rangebound. From terminal orders, demand performance varied across segments: demand for electronics and auto parts orders was relatively good recently, while traditional hardware products were dragged down by the real estate market and performed relatively average; luggage zipper orders were weak, but apparel zipper orders at some enterprises remained relatively steady. Export side, affected by regional tensions, orders for the Middle East market decreased somewhat, while demand in other regional markets remained at normal levels. Looking ahead to next week, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy is expected to fluctuate around 52.20%.