China's Magnesium Alloy Operating Rate Drops 26.18% MoM in February 2025

【SMM Molybdenum Analysis 】 SMM News on September 3: In August, China’s molybdenum market maintained a tight balance characterized by relatively tight supply and support from rigid demand. Overall prices rose first and then stabilized, consolidating at highs. 45% molybdenum concentrates shot up to 5,455 yuan/mtu during August 19–25, remaining firmly in the three-year high range; this simultaneously drove spot 60% ferromolybdenum to rise, reaching a phased high of 344,000 yuan/mt on August 24–25.

[Aluminum Scrap and Secondary Aluminum Weekly Review: ADC12 Prices Rise for Consecutive Days, Profit Improvement and Marginal Demand Recovery] This week, ADC12 market prices continued to climb. As of Thursday, the price had risen by a cumulative 350 yuan/mt during the week to 24,300 yuan/mt. On the cost side, aluminum prices held up well this week, further strengthening cost support for ADC12 raw materials. Enterprises showed a stronger willingness to increase prices, driving spot quotes higher. As the price of finished alloy ingots rose...

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Cost Push Drives Magnesium Prices Up, Weak Demand Limits Gains] This week, mainstream quotations for 99.90% magnesium ingot in major production areas stood at 16,050-16,150 yuan/mt, up 300 yuan/mt WoW, with FOB prices at $2,280-2,380/mt and an average of $2,330/mt. Magnesium ingot prices shot up during the week, driven by rising coal and ferrosilicon costs, coupled with some restocking at higher prices in foreign trade. However, the overall market remained characterized by strong supply and weak demand, with sluggish transactions at high prices and signs of a pullback emerging in the latter part of the week. Overseas demand has not shown any substantial recovery, with market activity dominated by tentative inquiries, limited actual order volumes, and evident buyer pressure for lower prices, keeping trading sluggish. Downstream magnesium powder and magnesium alloy prices followed the cost-driven increase in magnesium ingot, but end-use demand for magnesium powder remained weak, with some enterprises cutting production or suspending operations, exports constrained, and inventory levels rising. Spot inventory of magnesium alloy was ample, competition among peers was intense, and die-casting enterprises faced insufficient orders and declining operating rates, keeping processing fees under pressure. In the short term, cost support and weak demand are locked in a tug-of-war, and the upward momentum in magnesium prices is losing steam, with the market likely to return to consolidation. Going forward, close attention should be paid to the release of domestic and overseas orders.