[SMM Flash] Central China A00 Market on March 23

Published: Mar 23, 2026 13:13
Today, aluminum prices extended their decline, and premiums in central China remained in positive territory. Traders' willingness to purchase and stockpile fell from the previous two days. Although downstream processing enterprises showed some willingness to buy the dip, they still did not make large-scale concentrated purchases, and overall market purchase sentiment weakened. In the end, actual quotes and transaction prices in the central China market fell all the way, from a 50-yuan premium over the central China price before the opening to around parity with the central China price, while suppliers showed no clear willingness to hold prices firm. Today, the central China market shipments sentiment index was 2.63, up 0.01 MoM; the buying sentiment index was 2.48, down 0.03 MoM.

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.

For any inquiries or to learn 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
Iran Controls Strait of Hormuz, Charges $2M for Tanker Passage, Selective Transit Allowed
29 mins ago
Iran Controls Strait of Hormuz, Charges $2M for Tanker Passage, Selective Transit Allowed
Read More
Iran Controls Strait of Hormuz, Charges $2M for Tanker Passage, Selective Transit Allowed
Iran Controls Strait of Hormuz, Charges $2M for Tanker Passage, Selective Transit Allowed
[SMM Aluminum Express News] Iran has effectively turned the Strait of Hormuz into a controlled corridor, with at least 20 tankers rerouted near Qeshm and Larak via a regime-approved path. Some ships reportedly pay up to $2M for passage. Tehran allows non-aggressor vessels through while restricting others; China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, and Thailand have coordinated for safe transit.
29 mins ago
Overnight, LME aluminum and SHFE aluminum edged up slightly; aluminum prices remained under pressure at elevated levels in the short term [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary]
31 mins ago
Overnight, LME aluminum and SHFE aluminum edged up slightly; aluminum prices remained under pressure at elevated levels in the short term [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary]
Read More
Overnight, LME aluminum and SHFE aluminum edged up slightly; aluminum prices remained under pressure at elevated levels in the short term [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary]
Overnight, LME aluminum and SHFE aluminum edged up slightly; aluminum prices remained under pressure at elevated levels in the short term [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary]
[Geopolitical Risks Compound Interest Rate Cut Expectations, Intensifying the Tug-of-War Between Longs and Shorts in the Aluminum Market] Continued destocking of LME inventory has provided bottom support for LME aluminum, but tightening funding liquidity and profit-taking by bulls have limited upward momentum, and the backwardation structure has somewhat weakened. China’s social inventory has risen to a high for the same period in nearly five years, and the inventory buildup cycle has yet to end. High inventory and weak spot fundamentals are jointly suppressing upward momentum. Divergence between domestic and overseas drivers continues, the SHFE/LME price ratio keeps weakening, and the market is expected to remain under pressure in the short term.
31 mins ago
Aluminum Prices Stabilized but Failed to Change Wait-and-See Sentiment, Short-Term Fluctuations to Continue [SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment]
40 mins ago
Aluminum Prices Stabilized but Failed to Change Wait-and-See Sentiment, Short-Term Fluctuations to Continue [SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment]
Read More
Aluminum Prices Stabilized but Failed to Change Wait-and-See Sentiment, Short-Term Fluctuations to Continue [SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment]
Aluminum Prices Stabilized but Failed to Change Wait-and-See Sentiment, Short-Term Fluctuations to Continue [SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment]
[SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment: Aluminum Prices Halted Their Decline, but Wait-and-See Sentiment Remained Unchanged; Rangebound Movement May Continue in the Short Term] Spot market, yesterday the overall ADC12 market continued to hold prices steady. Aluminum prices showed signs of halting their decline, but market sentiment recovered only limitedly, and enterprises generally chose to postpone price adjustments and mainly adopt a wait-and-see stance. Demand side, downstream orders did not improve significantly, and just-in-time procurement remained the main approach, with mediocre transaction performance. Against the backdrop of easing cost-side fluctuations and insufficient demand support, ADC12 prices may continue to fluctuate within a range and remain relatively stable in the short term, with relatively limited momentum for price adjustments. Further attention should still be paid to aluminum price trends and the recovery of end-use demand.
40 mins ago