December’s week four concludes — Here’s a snapshot of aluminium pricing movements in SMM

The SMM aluminium market is buzzing with activity, offering a blend of stability and subtle shifts across various segments. While some prices held their ground, others nudged lower, reflecting the ever-changing dynamics of supply and demand. From alumina to primary and secondary ingots and even low-carbon and high-purity aluminium, today’s pricing paints a complex picture of the industry’s landscape. Whether it’s the steady Australian alumina FOB price or the mixed movements in ingot premiums and discounts across Chinese regions, there’s plenty for market watchers to unpack. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening in the world of aluminium today.

Alumina pricing

The price listing for alumina as of December 27, 2024, reflects variations across regions in China and Australian FOB prices. The average alumina price in China is RMB 5,718 per tonne, showing a decrease of RMB 7 compared to the previous data. Among the Chinese regions, Shandong reports an average price of RMB 5,735 per tonne with no change, while Henan and Shanxi saw declines of 10 and 15 RMB, averaging RMB 5,680 per tonne and RMB 5,725 per tonne, respectively. The regions of Guizhou and Guangxi both hold steady at RMB 5,740 per tonne.

Meanwhile, the Australian alumina FOB price remains at USD 670, unchanged. Today’s SMM alumina pricing highlights a mixed trend, with stability in some regions and slight decreases in others.

Primary aluminium ingot pricing

The aluminium market saw mixed movements today, with fluctuations in domestic ingot prices and premiums reflecting varying demand and supply conditions across regions.

The SMM A00 aluminium Ingot price averaged RMB 19,730 per tonne, declining by RMB 90 compared to the previous day. Regional prices displayed similar downward trends, with Gongyi registering the sharpest drop of RMB 100, averaging RMB 19,650 per tonne. Foshan reported a smaller decline of RMB 80 to RMB 19,940 per tonne, while Linyi witnessed a significant drop of RMB 120, averaging RMB 19,750 per tonne.

The SMM A00 aluminium ingot discount averaged RMB 20 per tonne with a range of a premium of 0 RMB to a discount of 40 RMB, improving by RMB 10.

Secondary aluminium ingot pricing

The aluminium alloy market reflected contrasting trends today, with stagnant pricing for ADC12 and A380 grades, while other alloy prices witnessed declines.

Prices for aluminium alloy (A356) dropped by RMB 100 to an average of RMB 20,200 per tonne, within a range of RMB 20,000-20,400 per tonne. Similarly, aluminium alloy (A360) saw a RMB 100 decline, averaging RMB 20,350 per tonne, with a price range of RMB 20,250-20,450 per tonne.

Meanwhile, the prices for ADC12 and A380 remained steady, reflecting a balanced market sentiment for these grades.

Other pricing

Low-carbon aluminium prices also softened, falling by RMB 82 to RMB 20,957 per tonne. High-purity aluminium followed the downward trend, with 99.99% and 99.996% aluminium prices dropping by 100 bucks to RMB 26,800 per tonne and RMB 27,800 per tonne, respectively.