SMM A00 aluminium ingot price remains range-bound with a growth of RMB40/t; Imported input costs decline

According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China's A00 aluminium ingot price has gained RMB 40 per tonne to reach RMB 20,420 per tonne on Thursday, December 12. Since the beginning of the week, China's domestic aluminium ingot prices have moved within a fixed range, hovering between RMB 20,410-20,420 per tonne. Today's average prices are estimated to range between RMB 20,400-20,440 per tonne, with a spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 40 per tonne.

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Due to the ongoing traditional off-season, the subtle trading of aluminium ingot in the domestic market has led to range-bound prices throughout December. From December 2 to 12, China's A00 aluminium ingot price has increased by only RMB 40 per tonne.

The provinces have demonstrated a mixed trend, with some witnessing price growth while others experiencing a downfall. For instance, A00 aluminium ingot price in Foshan has increased by RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20,460 per tonne, followed by a rise of RMB 50 per tonne in Shenyang and Linyi to RMB 20,460 per tonne and RMB 20,310 per tonne, respectively. In Chongqing and Tianjin, the ingot price has inched up by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 20,400 per tonne and RMB 20,420 per tonne. Wuxi and Hangzhou, on the other hand, have witnessed a fall of RMB 30 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne, respectively, to RMB 20,400 per tonne and RMB 20,420 per tonne.

China's domestic low-carbon aluminium price has grown for the second day in a row by RMB 56 per tonne to peg at RMB 21,513 per tonne as of December 12. However, week-on-week, the price is still down by RMB 64 per tonne from RMB 21,577 per tonne.

Input costs

Imported bauxite price has marginally dipped by US$ 0.01 per tonne to US$96.32 per tonne. Since the last hike of 3.26 per cent on Tuesday, December 10, to US$96.33 per tonne, China's imported bauxite price has remained range-bound at around US$96.33-96.32 per tonne.

Imported alumina price has plunged by US$80 per tonne to come below the RMB 700 per tonne mark. According to SMM, the Australian alumina FOB price has come in at US$680 per tonne, reflecting a steep fall of 16 per cent W-o-W from RMB 810 per tonne.

The domestic prices of both bauxite and alumina have remained unchanged at RMB 680 per tonne and RMB 5,769 per tonne on December 12. Production cuts at some smelters, especially in Henan, conforming to the environment-protection measures for the winter-heating season are the primary reason for the subdued trend of raw materials prices.

Short-term outlook

China's domestic A00 aluminium ingot price is expected to grow at a slower rate, given the timid demand from the downstream industry due to the ongoing off-season. Raw material prices are also estimated to remain muted due to operation cuts in many provinces in China regulated by environmental protection policies.