Cost Support Coupled With Off-Season Demand, ADC12 Price Remains Moving Sideways [ADC12 Price Daily Review]

Published: Jul 17, 2026 13:14
[ADC12 Price Daily Review: Cost Support and Off-Season Demand Keep ADC12 Price Moving Sideways] Today, the ADC12 market continued its stable price trend overall, with mainstream producers’ quotations basically flat. The SMM ADC12 price remained stable at 24,100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

Futures side: The aluminum alloy 2609 contract drifted higher in intraday trading today, opening at 23,040 yuan/mt in the morning session and closing the morning at 23,070 yuan/mt, edging up 5 points or 0.02% from the settlement price. After a brief early-session spike and pullback, the price dipped to 22,970 yuan/mt where support held firm, before bulls gradually pushed it higher, with the intraday price holding above the average line. The four-hour candlestick remained supported by the DKX moving average, and the KD indicator stayed in bullish territory. Intraday trading volume edged up, open interest ticked higher, and funds saw modest inflows. Resistance was evident near 23,105 yuan/mt, while support was solid at 22,970 yuan/mt. The tug-of-war between longs and shorts was mild, and the overall market moved sideways at elevated levels.

Spot side: The ADC12 market maintained a steady price trend overall today, with quotations from mainstream producers basically flat. The SMM ADC12 quotation was unchanged from the previous trading day at 24,100 yuan/mt. On the one hand, recent aluminum price fluctuations were limited, and the cost side lacked new drivers, while tight aluminum scrap supply provided some support to secondary aluminum alloy prices, leaving producers with little willingness to adjust prices. On the other hand, end-use demand remained in the off-season, downstream order releases were insufficient, and purchases were largely need-based, resulting in a muted market atmosphere; some enterprises reported that demand weakened further compared to earlier. Amid the tug-of-war between cost support and weak demand, the market overall took a cautious wait-and-see stance. It is expected that short-term ADC12 prices will mainly move sideways within a narrow range with a steady bias, with focus on aluminum price fluctuations, changes in aluminum scrap supply, and improvement in downstream orders.

 

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

Images in this article contain AI-translated captions for reference only.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Transport Costs Keep South African Chrome Producers Under Margin Pressure
9 hours ago
Transport Costs Keep South African Chrome Producers Under Margin Pressure
Read More
Transport Costs Keep South African Chrome Producers Under Margin Pressure
Transport Costs Keep South African Chrome Producers Under Margin Pressure
[SMM Express] Transport-related costs remain an important cost challenge for South Africa's chrome industry. The Minerals Council South Africa said in its latest Mining Input Cost Inflation report that chrome and manganese experienced elevated input-cost inflation in June, largely due to their reliance on transportation networks, particularly road freight, where higher fuel prices have increased operating costs. The pressure comes alongside elevated energy costs, with the Minerals Council noting that higher fuel prices and the full impact of winter electricity tariffs are expected to keep mining input-cost inflation elevated in the coming months. For chrome producers, the combination of fuel-intensive ore transportation and higher power costs could continue to weigh on margins, particularly for operations dependent on longer road-haulage routes to processing plants and export corridors.
9 hours ago
Bengwenyama Moves Closer to Development as South Africa Grants 30-Year Mining Right
9 hours ago
Bengwenyama Moves Closer to Development as South Africa Grants 30-Year Mining Right
Read More
Bengwenyama Moves Closer to Development as South Africa Grants 30-Year Mining Right
Bengwenyama Moves Closer to Development as South Africa Grants 30-Year Mining Right
[SMM Express] Southern Palladium has secured a 30-year mining right for its Bengwenyama PGM-chrome project on the Eastern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex. The right was granted by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on August 7, 2026, marking a key regulatory milestone for the development, which is planned to recover both PGMs and chrome from UG2 ore. The development is particularly relevant to the chrome market following recent metallurgical testwork that lifted expected chromite recovery to 85.6%, from the 30%assumption in the earlier pre-feasibility study, potentially raising chrome concentrate production to about 1.054 million mt/y at the planned Stage 2 expansion. The mining right therefore strengthens the pathway for a future additional chrome supply source from South Africa's Bushveld Complex, although the project remains subject to further development and financing milestones.
9 hours ago
[SMM Express] Global Chrome Ore Departures Rise 12.68% WoW to 717,000 mt, Led by Maputo
9 hours ago
[SMM Express] Global Chrome Ore Departures Rise 12.68% WoW to 717,000 mt, Led by Maputo
Read More
[SMM Express] Global Chrome Ore Departures Rise 12.68% WoW to 717,000 mt, Led by Maputo
[SMM Express] Global Chrome Ore Departures Rise 12.68% WoW to 717,000 mt, Led by Maputo
Global chrome ore departures from major export ports totaled 717,000 mt in the week ended August 7, up 12.68% week-on-week, according to SMM's latest data. The increase was primarily driven by Maputo, which handled 496,200 mt, accounting for about 69% of total shipments. Richards Bay followed with 171,500 mt, while Mersin recorded 49,300 mt and Beira reported no chrome ore departures. The latest data also shows a notable shift in weekly flows. Maputo shipments increased from 389,300 mt in the previous week, while Richards Bay shipments eased from 180,400 mt and Mersin shipments declined from 66,600 mt. The stronger overall departures, led by Maputo, point to increased seaborne chrome ore flows from Southern Africa during the latest reporting week, with the port distribution highlighting the continued importance of Mozambique and South Africa's export corridors in global chrome ore supply.
9 hours ago
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?Sign in here
Cost Support Coupled With Off-Season Demand, ADC12 Price Remains Moving Sideways [ADC12 Price Daily Review] - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)