The SHFE and LME nickel prices diverged markedly in the afternoon trading on Tuesday. The SHFE/LME nickel price ratio shrank from 7.28 to 7.07. The import loss widened to $1,000/mt.

According to General Administration of Customs China imported 8.73 million mt of bauxite in December, up 13.32% month-on-month and 16.4% year-on-year.

China imported 4.01 million mt of nickel ore and its concentrate in November, a decrease of 10% from the previous month and a year-on-year increase of 12%, According to General Administration of Customs.

The trades remained subdued, and the Yangshan copper premiums changed little. Many trading companies have closed their accounts and are busy with the year-end settlement, lacking purchasing interest for spot cargoes. Import losses fluctuated between 200-400 yuan/mt during the week against the January contract.

The silicon metals prices skyrocketed in September and started to fall after the National Day holiday in October. The prices of oxygen-free 553# silicon basically lost all the gains in September, and the prices of high-grade silicon was relatively firm.

Zinc stocks across LME-listed warehouses declined 9,325 mt to 226,900 mt last week. The contango of LME cash to 3-month contract rose to $14.5/mt. The market expects that the FOMC will not propose a gradual reduction in debt purchases in September due to sluggish US data and the spread of Delta virus. At the same time, the European Central Bank's speech is relatively optimistic, and the market holds a moderate outlook. LME zinc is expected to move between $3,030-3,110/mt.

Lead concentrate TCs were flat last week. The concentrate stocks at some plants were high due to the power curtailment, and the transactions of TCs were limited despite the high quotations.

Lead concentrate TCs fell slightly and the average concentrate inventory level of smelters has not changed significantly.

TCs for domestic lead concentrate rose all the way since the start of the year

Aluminium scrap is set to see tightened supply in 2018 as environmental protection policies weigh in further.