[SMM analysis] the opening rate of aluminum profiles was flat in April compared with the previous month, and showed a downward trend in June.

Published: Jun 12, 2019 18:13
SMM has recently communicated with dozens of domestic profile enterprises, through data statistics and analysis, it is concluded that the operating rate of aluminum profile enterprises in May is 62.12%, a slight increase of 0.04% compared with April, the basic trend can be seen as follows.

SMM has recently communicated with dozens of domestic profile enterprises, through data statistics and analysis, it is concluded that the operating rate of aluminum profile enterprises in May is 62.12%, a slight increase of 0.04% compared with April, the basic trend can be seen as follows.

Source: SMM

The total opening rate in May was basically the same as in April. However, according to the scale of enterprises, the operating rate of large enterprises is 64.55%, which is higher than that of April, and more than 10% higher than that of small and medium-sized enterprises, while the starting rate of the latter is lower than that of April. It can be seen that there are still great differences in output and order between large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. Some large profile enterprises in Shandong, Guangdong and other places reported to SMM that orders in May increased steadily compared with April, and one enterprise even completed its orders in June at the end of May, and the production schedule had been scheduled for more than a month. Not only domestic trade, but also most of the large foreign trade enterprises said that orders were flat or increased compared with last year. In contrast, SMM understands that the performance of SMEs is more vulnerable. First of all, environmental protection is still the main reason affecting the growth of order production of SMEs. In addition, the problem of financial shortage is particularly prominent among SMEs this year. Because large enterprises in bank loans, social financing is easy to get more convenience and channels, and for small and medium-sized enterprises, new orders if the book period is longer, considering their own cash flow problems are often difficult to accept. In addition, some building materials enterprises said that the current real estate developers in the selection of suppliers gradually improved standards, small and medium-sized profile factories often due to the size, capacity and accounts payable and other indicators can not meet the requirements of customers and missed orders.

According to the type of enterprise, the operating rate of industrial profile enterprises is 58.94%, down nearly 4.5% from the previous month, and the average operating rate of construction profile enterprises is 62.71%, up 0.87% from the previous month. With the gradual development of construction of real estate and other site projects in May, orders for building materials increased steadily compared with April, while industrial materials suffered a marked setback. Orders for car profiles in May were significantly lower than those in April. According to SMM, orders for car profiles such as tank cars, oil tankers, passenger cars and cars all decreased in May. In addition to the weak environmental factors in the car market, the release of new regulations also affected the growth of profile orders, and orders for other industrial materials such as rail profiles, solar photovoltaic and aluminum templates were more stable.

We expect the overall operating rate of aluminum profiles to decline in June from May. Some profile enterprises said that at the end of May and early June, the number of new orders began to decrease significantly, and the production and operation situation in June may be weaker than that in May. In addition, as a result of entering the seasonal off-season of consumption in late June and catching up with the busy farming season in the north, considering seasonal and worker factors, production may be lower than that in May.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Strait Passage Restrictions Compounded by Supply Hard Damage, Aluminum Prices Firmly Supported at High Levels [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes]
28 mins ago
Strait Passage Restrictions Compounded by Supply Hard Damage, Aluminum Prices Firmly Supported at High Levels [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes]
Read More
Strait Passage Restrictions Compounded by Supply Hard Damage, Aluminum Prices Firmly Supported at High Levels [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes]
Strait Passage Restrictions Compounded by Supply Hard Damage, Aluminum Prices Firmly Supported at High Levels [SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes]
[Strait Transit Restrictions Combined with Hard Supply Damage, Aluminum Prices Firmly Supported at High Levels] Overall, from a macro perspective, strait transit restrictions and the risk of conflict escalation resonated with hard supply damage and low global inventory on the fundamentals side, jointly providing strong support for aluminum prices. In the short term, aluminum prices held up well.
28 mins ago
US and Israeli Military Strike Hits Iran's Largest Aluminium Producer, IRALCO
29 mins ago
US and Israeli Military Strike Hits Iran's Largest Aluminium Producer, IRALCO
Read More
US and Israeli Military Strike Hits Iran's Largest Aluminium Producer, IRALCO
US and Israeli Military Strike Hits Iran's Largest Aluminium Producer, IRALCO
[SMM Aluminum Express News] The Iran Aluminium Company (IRALCO) in Arak, Iran's largest aluminium producer, was struck during US and Israeli military operations on April 8, 2026. IRALCO is the country’s primary aluminum production facility, with an annual capacity of around 160,000–200,000 tons.
29 mins ago
Indonesia Revokes Illegal Mining Permits in Protected Forests, Orders Swift Action
16 hours ago
Indonesia Revokes Illegal Mining Permits in Protected Forests, Orders Swift Action
Read More
Indonesia Revokes Illegal Mining Permits in Protected Forests, Orders Swift Action
Indonesia Revokes Illegal Mining Permits in Protected Forests, Orders Swift Action
[SMM Aluminum Express News] President Prabowo Subianto has ordered Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to immediately revoke all illegal mining permits (IUP). The directive was given during a Cabinet Working Meeting at the State Palace on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Prabowo instructed Bahlil to act swiftly on reports of hundreds of unclear or illegal mining permits operating inside protected forests. He also asked Forestry Minister Raja Juli Anthoni about the current condition of protected forests and emphasized the need for immediate action on illegal IUPs found in the field.
16 hours ago
[SMM analysis] the opening rate of aluminum profiles was flat in April compared with the previous month, and showed a downward trend in June. - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)