[SMM midday review] East China Aluminum: traders have a weak awareness of active downstream replenishment

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 08 Apr , 2026

[SMM Aluminum Express News] India’s midstream and downstream aluminum industry is facing a severe crisis due to the ongoing West Asia conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Aluminum Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI). The conflict has broken supply chains for raw materials and aluminum scrap, causing production in the extrusion segment to drop sharply by 40–50%. Against an installed capacity of 4.2 million tons, extrusion units are currently operating at only 1.2–1.3 million ton, while rolled products stand at around 1.5 million tons. Rising input costs, especially for aluminum scrap, combined with higher logistics expenses and cheap imports, have significantly eroded the competitiveness of domestic producers.

[Ceasefire Unlikely to Resolve Supply Weakness; Aluminum Prices Retain Strong Support at High Levels] Overall, the two-week ceasefire news was unable to reverse the firm pattern underpinned by substantive supply damage and low inventory. Expectations of tangible supply contraction triggered by attacks on Middle Eastern aluminum smelters, combined with low global inventory and the recovery of peak-season demand in China, will provide strong upward momentum for aluminum prices. In the near term, aluminum prices are expected to hold up well.