SHFE Aluminum Falls, East China Premium Pulls Back [SMM Spot Aluminum Midday Review]

Published: Aug 18, 2026 17:35 (GMT+8)

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SMM Aug 18 news:

Today, the center of SHFE aluminum futures fell from the previous trading day, market shipment sentiment was relatively pronounced, and overall spot aluminum transactions shifted to discounts. Today, market transactions for A00 aluminum ingot premiums were between a discount of 40 yuan/mt and parity. Today, the east China market shipment sentiment index was 3.2, up 0.05 MoM; the procurement sentiment index was 3.15, down 0.25 MoM.

Today, the overall trading atmosphere in the central China market remained at yesterday's level. The monthly average price met market trading expectations, somewhat boosting traders' enthusiasm for shipments, but downstream processing enterprises' procurement sentiment consistently remained at the previous day's level. Ultimately, the actual transaction price range in the central China market centered around a discount of 110-130 yuan/mt against the SHFE aluminum September contract. Today, the central China market shipment sentiment index was 3.13, up 0.04 MoM; the procurement sentiment index was 2.9, unchanged MoM.

Inventory side, today aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption areas increased by 1,000 mt MoM, with only Gongyi showing destocking.

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