Aluminum to Remain in Upward Track if China Intensifies Capacity Cuts and Environmental Crackdowns, SMM Says

[SMM Domestic Bonded-Zone Primary Aluminum Inventory Statistics] On September 17, SMM reported primary aluminum inventory in the Shanghai bonded zone at 90,300 mt and in the Guangdong bonded zone at 27,000 mt, bringing total inventory to 117,300 mt, up 2,100 mt week over week.

[Aluminum Scrap and Secondary Aluminum Weekly Review: Tightening Compliance Supervision Raises Costs, ADC12 Prices Drift Higher] In terms of price spreads, on September 17, the price difference between A00 aluminum and mixed aluminum extrusion scrap free of paint in Foshan was about 2,468 yuan/mt, and the price difference between A00 aluminum and shredded aluminum tense scrap was about 1,247 yuan/mt. The price spread for aluminum tense scrap narrowed again WoW. Supply side, the tight raw material supply pattern remained unchanged, and the scarcity of compliant, invoiced aluminum scrap continued to rise. Notably, tax audits in central China continued to intensify, and the sharp drop in regional aluminum scrap supply will significantly disrupt aluminum scrap circulation. On the import side, this week, the price of imported shredded aluminum at Ningbo port was raised from 21,370 yuan/mt to 21,470 yuan/mt (tax inclusive), while at Tianjin port it rose from 21,420 yuan/mt to 21,520 yuan/mt (tax inclusive).

According to SMM statistics, as of September 11, days of in-factory inventories at aluminum rod plants in China recorded 8.06 days, up 0.43 days WoW