Magnesium Metal Fluctuates Rangebound and Rebounds, Showing Resilience; Magnesium Prices May Continue to Fluctuate Rangebound [SMM Magnesium Morning Meeting Minutes]

Published: Jan 26, 2026 09:09
[SMM Magnesium Morning Meeting Minutes: Magnesium Metal Shows Resilience with Fluctuating Rebound, Magnesium Prices Expected to Maintain Rangebound Fluctuations] On January 26, magnesium metal prices held steady, following last week's rangebound rebound. Increased downstream procurement supported inventory reduction and price stabilization.

SMM January 26 Magnesium Morning Meeting Minutes:

Magnesium Raw Material

Prices

The ex-factory price, excluding tax, for 1-3 cm dolomite (Wutai) was 108 yuan/mt, flat from the previous working day; the ex-factory price, excluding tax, for 2-4 cm dolomite (Wutai) was 128 yuan/mt, flat from the previous working day; the mainstream ex-factory price for 75 ferrosilicon in Shaanxi was 5,800 yuan/mt.

Supply and Demand

Last week, Wutai dolomite prices held steady. Recently, leading dolomite producers in Wutai confirmed production halts, reducing the supply of high-quality dolomite in the market. Considering the current high operating rates of primary magnesium plants provide strong support for dolomite demand, dolomite prices are expected to hold up well. In the previous working day, the most-traded ferrosilicon futures contract, 2603, closed at 5,652 yuan, up 56 yuan, an increase of 1.00%. In the spot market, ferrosilicon supply remained stable, downstream users maintained just-in-time procurement, and market trading activity was generally moderate. Ferrosilicon prices are expected to fluctuate rangebound.

Magnesium Ingot

Today, the mainstream transaction price for magnesium ingot in the Fugu area was 16,300 yuan/mt, flat from the previous working day; the China FOB price was $2,300-2,380/mt.

Supply and Demand

Last week, magnesium prices showed a pattern of initial strength followed by weakness, fluctuating within a narrow range. Reviewing the week, the magnesium market continued the previous week's pattern of persistent slight declines at the start of the week, with prices falling at a rate of 150 yuan/mt per day. As prices fell below 16,500 yuan/mt, market inquiries increased slightly, and large orders were occasionally concluded, leading to a noticeable reduction in inventory for some producers. By mid-week, magnesium prices once again rose above the 16,000 yuan/mt mark, market procurement enthusiasm increased significantly, and prices consequently bottomed out, with the domestic price for 99.90% magnesium ingot rising to 16,000 yuan/mt. Overall, supply was stable last week, increased downstream procurement volume led to a decline in producer inventory, and supported by producers' reluctance to sell, magnesium prices rebounded slightly.

Magnesium Alloy

Today, the mainstream tax-included ex-factory price for magnesium alloy in China was 18,500-18,700 yuan/mt; the China FOB price for magnesium alloy was $2,590-2,650/mt.

Supply and Demand

Last week, the magnesium alloy market exhibited a pattern of a declining benchmark price but firm alloy processing fees. Cost side, the weekly average price of the main raw material, magnesium ingot, decreased slightly last week, down 300 yuan/mt WoW. Auxiliary materials side, the price of A00 aluminum ingot occasionally fell below 24,000 yuan/mt, narrowing auxiliary material costs, but A00 aluminum prices still fluctuated at highs, and processing fees saw no significant adjustment. Supply-demand side, magnesium alloy producers operated stably last week. Currently, approaching the year-end, some die-casting plants and end-users are nearing the Chinese New Year break, leading to a slight reduction in orders. Affected by this, expansion plans at magnesium alloy plants were paused. Overall, the magnesium alloy market is expected to maintain a tight supply-demand balance, and magnesium alloy processing fees.

Magnesium Powder

Prices

Today, the mainstream ex-factory prices, including taxes, for 20-80 mesh magnesium powder in China were 17,450-17,650 yuan/mt; the FOB price in China was $2,470-2,530/mt.

Supply-Demand

Last week, magnesium powder prices continued to be affected by the decline in raw material prices, showing an overall weak and stable pattern. Although the market decline slowed down and stabilized mid-week, downward pressure persisted. Current magnesium powder transactions mainly rely on the execution of previous orders, and industry enthusiasm for purchasing raw materials is generally low. Looking back at the export performance in 2025, the magnesium powder export market experienced a certain degree of contraction, and overall demand still needs to recover. It is expected that magnesium powder prices will continue to be suppressed by the cost side this week, and downward pressure will be difficult to fully resolve.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Latrobe Magnesium Secures Funding for Commercial Plant via U.S. Distributor Prepayment
Apr 2, 2026 15:08
Latrobe Magnesium Secures Funding for Commercial Plant via U.S. Distributor Prepayment
Read More
Latrobe Magnesium Secures Funding for Commercial Plant via U.S. Distributor Prepayment
Latrobe Magnesium Secures Funding for Commercial Plant via U.S. Distributor Prepayment
[SMM Magnesium Express] Latrobe Magnesium secured a non-dilutive prepayment from U.S. distributor Metal Exchange to advance commissioning of its commercial magnesium plant. The Latrobe Valley facility uses brown coal fly ash as feedstock to produce magnesium ingots and cementitious by-products. The funding signals growing commercial backing for ash-to-magnesium processing, offering an offtake-backed prepayment model for similar projects.
Apr 2, 2026 15:08
[SMM Analysis]  Manganese-based Battery Materials Market Analysis:Cost-driven Divergence with Demand Recovery Ahead
Mar 31, 2026 19:33
[SMM Analysis] Manganese-based Battery Materials Market Analysis:Cost-driven Divergence with Demand Recovery Ahead
Read More
[SMM Analysis]  Manganese-based Battery Materials Market Analysis:Cost-driven Divergence with Demand Recovery Ahead
[SMM Analysis] Manganese-based Battery Materials Market Analysis:Cost-driven Divergence with Demand Recovery Ahead
Recently, China's manganese-based battery materials market has been characterized by cost-driven divergence and gradual demand recovery. Battery-grade manganese sulfate and trimanganese tetroxide have strengthened on the back of rising raw material and freight costs; electrolytic manganese dioxide remains stable; and lithium manganate is steady amid volatile lithium carbonate prices, awaiting a demand rebound in April.
Mar 31, 2026 19:33
Magnesium Market Holds Up Well as Cost Support and the Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers Continues [SMM Magnesium Weekly Review]
Mar 26, 2026 15:38
Magnesium Market Holds Up Well as Cost Support and the Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers Continues [SMM Magnesium Weekly Review]
Read More
Magnesium Market Holds Up Well as Cost Support and the Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers Continues [SMM Magnesium Weekly Review]
Magnesium Market Holds Up Well as Cost Support and the Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers Continues [SMM Magnesium Weekly Review]
[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Magnesium Market Held Up Well, With Cost Support and a Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers Continuing] This week, the overall magnesium industry chain held up well, with prices of all products generally raised. The raw material dolomite market remained stable, with ample supply and steady demand. Magnesium ingot prices consolidated at highs. At the beginning of the week, supported by rising energy costs such as ferrosilicon and coke and tight spot availability, prices jumped by 300 yuan/mt. Subsequently, downstream fear of high prices emerged, transactions failed to keep pace, and prices consolidated at highs. In foreign trade, the center of magnesium ingot FOB quotes moved up to $2,440-2,470/mt. Wait-and-see sentiment outside China remained strong, but influenced by bullish expectations in China, forward orders were gradually locked in. Magnesium powder prices remained firm, with strong cost support. Export data increased YoY, while domestic trade was mainly driven by just-in-time procurement. The benchmark price of magnesium alloy held up well, but the release of new capacity led to increased supply, processing fees stayed in the doldrums, and the market showed a pattern of strong supply and weak demand. Overall, cost support remained the core driver behind magnesium prices fluctuating at highs, while downstream acceptance of high prices was limited, and the market may continue this tug-of-war in the short term.
Mar 26, 2026 15:38
Magnesium Metal Fluctuates Rangebound and Rebounds, Showing Resilience; Magnesium Prices May Continue to Fluctuate Rangebound [SMM Magnesium Morning Meeting Minutes] - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)