Cast Aluminum Futures Drift Lower, Spot Demand Under Off-Season Pressure [ADC12 Price Daily Review]

Published: Jul 13, 2026 15:36
[ADC12 Price Daily Commentary: Cast Aluminum Futures Drift Lower, Spot Demand Under Pressure in Off-Season] Today, ADC12 market quotations overall consolidated on a subdued note, with the SMM ADC12 price dropping 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The pullback in aluminum prices and the weakening of cast aluminum alloy futures weighed on market sentiment, with enterprises' offer centers shifting lower in tandem with the cost side.

Futures side: The most-traded aluminum alloy 2609 contract opened at 22,830 yuan/mt today, reached an intraday high of 22,945 yuan/mt and a low of 22,770 yuan/mt, and closed at 22,810 yuan/mt, edging down 20 yuan/mt or 0.09% on the day. In early trading, prices surged to the intraday high before retreating under pressure, and the full-day minute chart ran below the average price line. In the afternoon, bearish strength increased, pushing prices down to the day's low, with the decline narrowing slightly in the late session. Today's trading volume was 9,987 lots, and open interest increased by 318 lots, with capital flowing out slightly despite position building. The 4-hour DKX indicator showed bullish and bearish lines converging, the KD indicator turned downward, and the RSI value pulled back to 40.62, indicating waning short-term bullish momentum. Overall, the contract exhibited a pattern of retreat after rapid rise and consolidating on a subdued note.

Spot side: Quotes in the ADC12 market showed an overall trend of consolidating on a subdued note today. The SMM ADC12 price fell 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The pullback in aluminum prices and the weakening of cast aluminum alloy futures pressured market sentiment, with enterprise quote centers shifting down along with the cost side. Meanwhile, downstream demand continued to weaken, and the trading atmosphere remained cold, further dampening enterprises' willingness to hold prices firm. Overall, with cost support weakening and off-season demand characteristics becoming more evident, the ADC12 market is expected to mainly move sideways on a subdued note in the short term.

Import side: Overseas ADC12 quotes ranged from $3,100 to $3,200/mt, and the price spread between Chinese and overseas markets continued to repair. If overseas quotes continue to pull back, the import profit window is expected to gradually open, and increased import resources will supplement the tight domestic supply to some extent.

 

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.

Images in this article contain AI-translated captions for reference only.

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
[SMM Flash] China's Chrome Ore Port Stocks Hold Near Record Highs Even After Easing From July Peak
Aug 7, 2026 22:35
[SMM Flash] China's Chrome Ore Port Stocks Hold Near Record Highs Even After Easing From July Peak
Read More
[SMM Flash] China's Chrome Ore Port Stocks Hold Near Record Highs Even After Easing From July Peak
[SMM Flash] China's Chrome Ore Port Stocks Hold Near Record Highs Even After Easing From July Peak
SMM's own port inventory tracking shows China's total chrome ore stockpiles have remained near record levels through the second half of 2026, even after a modest pullback from their 10 July peak. Inventories touched 509.14 (10,000mt) — roughly 5.09 million tonnes — on that date, before easing to approximately 490.15 (10,000mt), or 4.90 million tonnes, by early August, a drawdown of just 3.7%. Set against the trajectory of the year, that decline barely registers: stocks climbed from a trough near 300 (10,000mt) in late February to above 500 (10,000mt) by mid-year, and the current level remains well above anything seen in the first four months of 2026, confirming that the market is still working through a substantial ore overhang at Chinese ports rather than genuinely destocking. Pricing at Qinzhou Port has firmed alongside this marginal pullback rather than because of any real supply tightening. SMM data shows South African chrome concentrate (Cr2O3 40-42%) at 54.5 CNY/mtu and South African chrome lump (Cr2O3 36-38%) at 56.5 CNY/mtu as of 10 July 2026, with concentrate pricing subsequently climbing to 59.61 CNY/mtu by early August — a gain of close to 9% in under a month. That move should be read cautiously against the inventory backdrop: with port stocks still hovering near their 2026 high, the price recovery looks more like a technical bounce or short-term restocking behavior than evidence of a genuine tightening in the underlying supply-demand balance. Bottom line: China's chrome ore port inventories remain near record highs despite the recent dip, and SMM's data suggests the market has not meaningfully worked through this year's substantial stock build. Until inventories fall more decisively from current elevated levels, the recent price firmness at Qinzhou Port is likely to remain vulnerable to renewed downward pressure, particularly if South African arrivals continue at their current pace.
Aug 7, 2026 22:35
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's High-Carbon Ferrochrome Exports Dip Slightly in June, Reflecting Supply Constraints
Aug 7, 2026 22:09
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's High-Carbon Ferrochrome Exports Dip Slightly in June, Reflecting Supply Constraints
Read More
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's High-Carbon Ferrochrome Exports Dip Slightly in June, Reflecting Supply Constraints
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's High-Carbon Ferrochrome Exports Dip Slightly in June, Reflecting Supply Constraints
Aug 7, 2026 22:09
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's Chrome Ore Exports Hold Above 2.4 Mt in June as China's Dominance Grows Amid Policy Shifts
Aug 7, 2026 21:57
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's Chrome Ore Exports Hold Above 2.4 Mt in June as China's Dominance Grows Amid Policy Shifts
Read More
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's Chrome Ore Exports Hold Above 2.4 Mt in June as China's Dominance Grows Amid Policy Shifts
[SMM Analysis] South Africa's Chrome Ore Exports Hold Above 2.4 Mt in June as China's Dominance Grows Amid Policy Shifts
Aug 7, 2026 21:57
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?Sign in here
Cast Aluminum Futures Drift Lower, Spot Demand Under Off-Season Pressure [ADC12 Price Daily Review] - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)