Market Trading Atmosphere Was Sluggish, Market Transaction Prices Declined [SMM Spot Aluminum Midday Review]

Published: May 13, 2026 13:13

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SMM May 13:

SHFE aluminum 2606 contract fluctuated upward in the morning session, with the overall price center rising compared to the previous trading day. Some sellers held prices firm today. End-users mainly made just-in-time procurement, and traders' buying sentiment improved. The mainstream spot cargo quotations ranged from SMM A00 aluminum average price to SMM A00 minus 10 yuan/mt. The shipment sentiment index in east China was 2.96 today, up 0.10 MoM; the purchasing sentiment index was 2.86, up 0.06 MoM.

The overall trading atmosphere in the central China market remained sluggish today. Aluminum prices rebounded slightly, and buying sentiment was basically flat compared to the previous day. Insufficient invoice quotas and limited orders continued to suppress buying sentiment of downstream processing enterprises. The actual transaction price range in the central China market remained relatively stable, hovering between parity and a discount of 10 yuan to the central China price. The shipment sentiment index in central China was 2.82 today, flat MoM; the purchasing sentiment index was 2.28, flat MoM.

Inventory side, aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption areas fell 0.45 MoM today, with all three regions showing a destocking trend.

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.

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