Aluminum Prices Stay High, Downstream Price Acceptance Remains Weak [SMM Spot Aluminum Midday Review]

Published: Apr 17, 2026 18:15

Save

SMM, April 17:

SHFE aluminum 2605 fluctuated downward in the morning session, but overall aluminum prices remained at high levels. Influenced by downstream stockpiling on Friday, overall market purchasing sentiment rose. However, due to high aluminum prices, downstream price acceptance remained low. Mainstream transactions were concentrated around SMM A00 aluminum at -10 yuan/mt to the average price. The east China market shipments sentiment index was 3.71 today, flat MoM; the purchasing sentiment index was 3.05, up 0.09 MoM.

Aluminum prices continued to fluctuate at high levels today. The trading atmosphere in the central China market remained relatively subdued, but with the weekend approaching and stockpiling demand, trading volume increased compared to the previous two days. Major traders and retail traders had significant price divergences today, with market prices scattered. Leading major traders quoted between parity with the central China price and a discount of 10 yuan to the central China price, while retail traders quoted at discounts of 30-50 yuan to the central China price. The final concentrated quotation was at a discount of 20 yuan to the central China price. The central China market shipments sentiment index was 2.85 today, flat MoM; the purchasing sentiment index was 2.32, up 0.02 MoM.

Inventory side, aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption areas decreased by 1,000 mt MoM today, with destocking mainly driven by Guangdong and Gongyi.

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 for 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

1 hour ago

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] GeT Alloys Replaces Heavy Fuel Oil with Tyre-Derived Fuel in Aluminium Recycling

South Africa-based GeT Metal Group and its subsidiary GeT Alloys have launched a waste-to-energy project that converts end-of-life tyres into industrial fuel for aluminium recycling operations. The initiative is designed to process around 150,000 waste tyres annually and produce approximately 1.44 million litres of fuel, fully replacing the company’s annual heavy fuel oil consumption used in aluminium melting. GeT estimates the project will reduce heavy fuel oil use by 1.44 million litres per year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 720 tonnes. The programme will also divert nearly 12,500 waste tyres per month from landfills and illegal dumping sites. GeT Alloys recycles around 350 million used beverage cans, packaging materials and post-consumer aluminium scrap annually into aluminium ingots. Carbon black generated during tyre processing will be used in aluminium dross recovery, while recovered steel wire will be recycled into steel billets, creating a circular economy model across both aluminium and steel value chains.

1 hour ago

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Woodside Signs Gas Supply Agreement with Alcoa to Support Alumina Production

Woodside Energy has signed a gas sale and purchase agreement with Alcoa of Australia to supply 31.1 petajoules (PJ) of natural gas from 2027 to 2030. The gas will be delivered to Alcoa’s alumina refineries in Western Australia, helping secure energy supply for one of the region’s key industrial sectors. Alumina is the primary raw material used in aluminium production, making reliable energy supply critical to maintaining stable output. Woodside said the agreement strengthens its long-term partnership with Alcoa and supports energy security for Western Australian industry. In 2025, Woodside supplied approximately 90.3 PJ of domestic gas, accounting for around 21% of the state’s total gas supply. Market participants expect the deal to improve cost predictability, reduce the risk of production disruptions and support the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries, including the aluminium sector.

1 hour ago

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Fosbel Promotes Ceramic Welding Technology for Online Aluminium Furnace Repairs

Fosbel has highlighted its Ceramic Welding technology as a solution for repairing refractory linings in aluminum furnaces without requiring shutdowns. The process uses an exothermic reaction to fuse new refractory material directly onto existing linings while furnaces remain in operation at temperatures above 1300°F. The technology is suitable for 60%, 70% and 80% alumina refractories commonly used in aluminum furnace applications and is designed to repair worn areas such as metal lines, roofs and sidewalls. Fosbel said the technology can be used for both maintenance and preventive repair programs to extend furnace campaign life and reduce downtime. The company has also introduced Nano-Tec™ ceramic welding powders, thermal cleaning systems and Supertorch equipment to improve repair efficiency, reduce material loss and lower maintenance costs. Hot-repair technologies are increasingly being adopted by aluminum producers seeking higher furnace reliability and operational efficiency.

1 hour ago