Spot aluminium purchases by downstream consumers improve in south China

SHANGHAI, Feb 25 (SMM) – At the start of the third week after the Lunar New Year holiday, spot aluminium buying interest among downstream consumers in south China improved from the previous week.

Spot aluminium deals among traders, however, still accounted for the majority of trading activities in the southern markets.

The from-month SHFE March contract rose from last Friday, after US President Donald Trump announced a postponement of a March 1 deadline for additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

Spot deals mostly occurred at 13,580-13,590 yuan/mt in Shanghai and Wuxi, and 13,570-13,590 yuan/mt in Hangzhou, SMM research found. Spot discounts in Shanghai stood at 80-70 yuan/mt against the SHFE 1903 contract, barely changed from the morning of last Friday.

Spot trades were mostly done at 13,630-13,640 yuan/mt in Guangdong this morning, and the spread with prices in Shanghai came in at 50 yuan/mt.

In a rising market, buying willingness among downstream consumers in eastern markets improved. Overall trades in eastern markets were brisk today.