Aluminum Prices Edge Up, Billet Inventories Decline, and Processing Fees Fluctuate

On April 25, SMM A00 aluminum was quoted at 20,070 yuan/mt, up 90 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, on par with the May contract, down 10 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. On April 25, SMM A00 aluminum (Foshan) was quoted at 20,020 yuan/mt, up 90 yuan/mt, at a discount of 50 yuan/mt to the current month, widening by 15 yuan/mt. (Unit: yuan/mt)

According to SMM statistics, in terms of domestic aluminum billet inventory in two regions, Guangdong aluminum billet inventory was 90,800 mt, Wuxi aluminum billet inventory was 27,000 mt, totaling 117,800 mt, a decrease of 6,500 mt MoM. Today, aluminum prices broke through the 20,000 yuan/mt mark, and processing fees were under pressure and weakened. Although there was some rigid demand for restocking before the holiday, downstream buyers still mainly drove down prices and purchased as needed. Most suppliers actively adjusted prices to promote transactions, and overall transactions were conducted with volume discounts. Notably, the shortage of small billets in the Nanchang market due to delayed arrivals led to a significant increase in processing fees against the trend. Today, the Foshan aluminum billet market was quoted at 260/310 yuan/mt, down 30 yuan/mt; the Wuxi market processing fee was quoted at 280/350 yuan/mt, unchanged; and the Nanchang region processing fee was quoted at 270/450 yuan/mt, down 10/up 120 yuan/mt. (Unit: yuan/mt)