[SHFE/LME price ratio continues to oscillate near 8.1, with zinc ingot import window remaining closed]: This week, the SHFE/LME price ratio slightly rebounded and oscillated near the level below 8.1, with the zinc ingot import window remaining closed. Overseas, frequent disruptions were caused by Trump's tariff issues. The US core PCE inflation rate for June unexpectedly rebounded to 2.8%, while consumer spending nearly stagnated. Expectations for US Fed interest rate cut weakened, and LME zinc pulled back from highs during the week.

[Zinc prices on SHFE and LME centers moved downward this week amid US dollar pressure and macro interference] At the beginning of the week, due to the continuous cooling of market expectations for an interest rate cut this month, coupled with the fact that the monthly rate of US durable goods orders in June last Friday was higher than both the expected and previous values, indicating continued economic resilience, the US dollar index continued to rise, and LME zinc prices fell...

[Consumption improved this week; Guangdong spot premiums/discounts basically flat week-on-week] This week, premiums/discounts in Guangdong were basically flat week-on-week. As of Friday this week, the mainstream 0# zinc quotations in Guangdong were at a discount of 65~15 yuan/mt against the market. The Shanghai-Guangdong price spread narrowed. Traders showed strong reluctance to budge on prices during the week, leading to a significant upward trend in premiums/discounts. From the supply and demand perspective, arrivals in Guangdong increased MoM this week, while the decline in zinc prices drove a rebound in downstream procurement enthusiasm. Market demand improved, and premiums/discounts rose...

[Under the off-season consumption, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy continues to decline] This week, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy was recorded at 48.24%, down 2.79 percentage points MoM. On the raw material side, the center of zinc prices declined somewhat this week, but amid the off-season consumption, die-casting zinc alloy enterprises still focused on just-in-time procurement, with raw material inventories only rising slightly MoM. On the finished product inventory side, driven by the continuous decline in zinc prices in the latter half of the week, end-users' enthusiasm for purchasing increased, and the pickup volume rose somewhat, resulting in a relatively significant decrease in enterprises' finished product inventories...

[Zinc oxide producers resume production, operating rates rise slightly] This week, the operating rate of zinc oxide producers was recorded at 56.13%, up 0.15% MoM. On the raw material side, although zinc prices declined this week, current end-use demand remains average. Coupled with the relatively difficult procurement of some raw materials, enterprises' raw material inventories this week were basically flat compared to last week. On the finished product inventories side, despite the decline in zinc prices, some enterprises recently completed equipment maintenance, and downstream players remained cautious due to average demand. As a result, finished product inventories also saw no significant changes...

[Slight Increase in Social Inventory This Week Due to Delayed Arrivals and Increased Purchases] According to SMM's communication and understanding, as of Monday this week (July 31), the total zinc ingot inventory across seven locations tracked by SMM was 103,200 mt, an increase of 4,900 mt from July 24 and a decrease of 500 mt from July 28, with a slight decline in domestic inventory...

[Domestic zinc concentrate TCs finalised in August, continuing to rise MoM]: This week, both domestic zinc concentrate TCs and imported zinc ore TCs increased MoM. Specifically, the average weekly domestic TC for SMM Zn50 rose by 100 yuan/mt (metal content) to 3,900 yuan/mt (metal content), while the SMM imported zinc concentrate index rose by $2.5/dmt to $78.75/dmt MoM...

[Downstream Buyers Purchase at Lower Prices, Ningbo Spot Premiums Rise]: This week, spot premiums in Ningbo rose, with the weekly average price increasing by 20 yuan/mt WoW. As of Friday this week, spot prices in Ningbo were at a premium of 50 yuan/mt against the 2509 contract and at a premium of 50 yuan/mt against the SHFE premium, with the premium against the SHFE gradually expanding during the week...

[Zinc prices fell mid-week, with spot premiums dropping first and then rising]: This week, spot premiums in Shanghai dropped first and then rose, with the weekly average price up 10 yuan/mt WoW. As of Friday this week, the ordinary domestic brand was on par with the 2508 contract, while the premium brand Shuangyan had fewer quotations...

[Zinc Prices Pull Back, Premiums in Tianjin Rise Slightly]: This week, spot premiums in Tianjin rose slightly, up by about 15 yuan/mt WoW. As of Friday this week, domestic common brands were quoted at a discount of 0-40 yuan/mt against the 2508 contract, while high-priced brands were quoted at a premium of 10-20 yuan/mt against the 2508 contract. The discount in Tianjin against Shanghai was around 30 yuan/mt, with the price spread between Shanghai and Tianjin narrowing.