Background: South Korea boasts well-developed electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries, which generate substantial demand for aluminum ingots. For instance, in automotive manufacturing, aluminum ingots are used to produce engine blocks and auto body structural components, contributing to vehicle lightweighting, improved fuel economy, and enhanced performance. In the electronics industry, aluminum ingots are utilized to manufacture electronic product casings and heat sinks. However, South Korea's domestic aluminum ingot production falls short of meeting the demands of these industries, necessitating significant reliance on imports to bridge the gap. Currently, South Korea ranks as the largest importer of aluminum ingots in Asia, excluding China. SMM has introduced the FCA Korea aluminum ingot spot premium to serve as a reference for market settlement.

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary: Tug-of-War Between Bulls and Bears Continues, Aluminum Prices Fluctuate at Highs] From a macro perspective, a series of relevant policies introduced domestically have played a positive role in stabilizing the real estate market, and the favorable macroeconomic environment in China remains unchanged. In overseas markets, Trump's policy stance has been inconsistent, and there are still many uncertainties from his stance to the actual implementation of policies. On the fundamental side, the cost side of the aluminum industry has remained stable, while the demand side has shown signs of structural recovery. Benefiting from the continuous influx of new orders in May, there has been an increase in stocking demand for raw materials such as aluminum ingots and aluminum billets ahead of the holiday. The reduction in domestic aluminum ingot inventory has provided support for aluminum prices, but suppliers have been actively selling at highs, causing spot premiums to pull back. Overall, whether substantive easing in Sino-US trade can be achieved remains to be seen over time. In the short term, the imbalance between bullish and bearish factors is still evident. As the transition between the off-season and peak season approaches and the PV installation rush nears its end, there is an expectation of a decline in subsequent orders for the downstream aluminum industry. There is insufficient momentum for aluminum prices to rise sharply again, and it is expected that domestic aluminum prices will fluctuate mainly before the holiday.

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 28 Apr, 2025

The CIF Korea P1020A spot premiums are formed and published according to this methodology, serving as indicative prices that can be used by both trading parties as a reference for CIF Korea P1020A spot trade settlement. These prices reflect the actual or potentially executable spot transaction price ranges for CIF Korea P1020A spot premiums at the time of publication for each full business day. They will be officially launched on May 9, 2025, and historical prices will be simultaneously available for viewing on the SMM official website (smm.cn).