China’s aluminium plate/sheet, strip & foil operating rates slightly up in Feb'23, given a slow improvement in new orders

According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, the average operating rates of China's domestic aluminium plate/sheet and strip producers stood month-on-month higher by 0.62 percentage point at 63.15 per cent during February 2023. But on a year-on-year basis, the operating rates edged a significant downfall of 14.26 percentage point.

In February, aluminium plate/sheet and strip production grew, along with the downstream orders owing to the peak season ahead. At the same time, the inventory of finished products held by many companies decreased sharply from the previous month.

SMM estimates the production and sales of aluminium plate/sheet and strip will grow further in March as the peak season arrives. But several industry players pointed out the market demand was weaker in February compared to the same period of previous years, so it is to be seen if the downstream demand grows in March.

The average operating rates of China’s aluminium foil producers also increased month-on-month in February 2023 standing at 73.63 per cent, up by 0.93 percentage point. On an annual calculation, the operating rates decreased sharply by 4.90 percentage points.

The monthly increase in China’s aluminium foil operating rate could be attributed to the upcoming peak season. Many aluminium foil companies said the order volume and their output grew, but at the same time, due to the approaching peak season, market participants underwent a wait-and-watch sentiment.

According to some aluminium foil companies, their operating rates can barely grow in the near term, given a slow improvement in new orders. If the overall demand continues to move up slowly in the remaining days of March, the aluminium foil consumption may remain poor for the first half of 2023 and so the operating rates of aluminium foil producers.