As the domestic secondary lead smelters cannot purchase raw materials smoothly in the early stage of the implementation of the new value-added tax (VAT) policy on lead-acid battery scrap, the domestic lead prices are expected to move upward supported by the higher costs and expectations for tighter supply. However, the lead consumption market is approaching the traditional off season, the lead ingot inventory increases, and the spot discounts expand.

Data released by LME shows that the lead inventory across LME-listed warehouses have been falling from the high level of 58,175 mt since November 16, 2021.

Stainless steel futures entered sharp correction.  The most-traded SHFE contract fell sharply after hitting highs on September 23, and closed at 19,690 yuan/mt today. The decline reached 12.2% for four trading days.

The contango of LME cash to the three-month contract maintained at $10/mt. LME zinc prices are expected to stand at $2,960-3,030/mt this week. The most-traded SHFE contracts are expected to stand at 22,000-22,600 yuan/mt this week, spot premiums of Shanghai zinc stood at 180-200 yuan/mt over the October contract.

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on Wednesday May 16, 2018.

The following table shows the movements of ferrous and nonferrous metals on the SHFE and DCE on Friday April 20. 2018.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) issued the Announcement on the Issuance of the Amendments to Copper Cathode, Aluminum, Zinc and Lead Futures Contracts. 

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) announced it approved Guangxi Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Co.’s JNMC  grade-A copper a deliverable brand, it said on its website.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) announced March 1 that it has approved ten warehouses from eight companies for aluminum delivery.

The latest statistics published by the ILZSG indicates that global refined zinc market was in surplus of 181,000 tons during the initial four-month period of the current year.