Primary aluminium inventories shrank 15,000 mt on week to 669,000 mt

Social inventories of primary aluminium ingots across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, increased 61,000 mt from last Thursday to 775,000 mt as of February 10.

Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, rose 32,000 mt from the prior week to 714,000 mt as of February 4, the highest since October 15 2020, and stocks in Gongyi and Hangzhou mainly contributed to the increase. 

Nickel ore inventories across all Chinese ports decreased 260,000 wmt from January 15 to 8.61 million wmt as of January 22, showed SMM data.

Zinc inventories in China fell this week, with stocks in Shanghai and Tianjin decreasing relatively sharply.

Stocks of copper in Shanghai bonded areas increased slightly for two consecutive weeks on larger arrivals.

Primary aluminium ingot inventories in China rose this week, showed SMM data. 

Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, declined 3,000 mt from the prior week to 586,000 mt as of December 24, and Gongyi and Nanhai mainly contributed to the decline.

Inventories of hot-rolled coils of steel sheets used to produce home appliances and cars in China extended declines this week, and the decline expanded slightly compared with the prior week.

A total of 112 vessels carrying 16.8 million mt of iron ore arrived at major Chinese ports during December 13-19, SMM estimates. This was up 2.15 million mt from the previous week and 2.06 million mt from the same period last year. Arrivals at Tangshan port increased one million mt on the week.

Zinc inventories in China fell over the weekend, primarily propelled by a decrease in Guangdong.