The Average Aluminium Cost Remained around 18,000 yuan/mt

SHANGHAI, May 30 (SMM) -  The average cost of aluminium smelters slid 34 yuan/mt from a week ago to 18,205 yuan/mt as of last Friday due to a slight drop in alumina prices. The SMM spot aluminium prices averaged 20,800 yuan/mt, while the profit of smelters rose 64 yuan/mt to 2,594 yuan/mt. According to SMM survey, the power costs of aluminium smelters in north-west China decreased slightly in May. The grid electricity prices in Ningxia dropped to around 0.42 yuan/kwh, while the hydropower prices in Qinghai remained at 0.38 yuan/kwh. The electricity prices of some smelters in Inner Mongolia who have captive power plants were just 0.35 yuan/kwh, which is lower than the national weighted average level of 0.44 yuan/kwh. Smelters with obvious advantages in electricity prices reap considerable profits. Thanks to lower electricity prices in the rainy season, the average electricity price of smelters is expected to continue to decrease slightly. However, the market also needs to be alert to potential power shortages in the peak season of power use.