China’s 45Mt aluminium cap pushes producers overseas as global dominance grows
China’s aluminium industry is running close to its limits in 2026. As Shanghai aluminium prices near a three-month high, historically low raw material costs and strong smelter margins encourage producers to operate at maximum capacity. National aluminium output remains above Beijing’s...
WEEKLY: Guinea shipments surge but freight costs keep China bauxite spot split, prices pinned in tight band
China's domestic ore prices held steady last week. In Shanxi, a limited volume of relatively lower-grade domestic ore was concluded under long-term contracts at approximately RMB 530 per tonne. In Henan, the expected increase in domestic ore output has yet to materialise, leaving the supply-demand...
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Aluminium processing rates rebound 1.1 per cent M-o-M, but lag behind previous years' peak-season levels
This week, the weekly operating rate of leading downstream aluminium processing enterprises in China rebounded 1.1 percentage points MoM to 64 per cent. Operating rates across segments showed differentiated recovery, and consumption gradually returned to the peak-season pace, but the overall level...
Macro news was mixed, and aluminium prices were expected to mainly fluctuate and adjust
Futures: In the night session on March 26, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2605 contract opened at RMB 23,970 per tonne, hit an intraday high of RMB 23,995 per tonne and a low of RMB 23,850 per tonne, and finally closed at RMB 23,870 per tonne, up 0.61 per cent. Open interest in the night session...
Germany and South Korea grapple with rare earth supply crunch as global race deepens
Germany, the wider European Union and South Korea are increasingly finding themselves on the back foot in securing rare earth supplies, even as countries like the United States and Japan move quickly to lock in access through strategic deals and investments. The imbalance is becoming more visible...
Global aluminium scrap trade trend: US sells, Asia buys
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 Ever since the emergence of recycled aluminium as a key lever for both decarbonisation and supply security in the industry, the United States (US) has emerged as one of the world’s leading exporters of aluminium scrap, with a well-established collection network and surplus...
DAILY: China's spot alumina prices maintain uptrend
Mysteel assessed the national average spot price for metallurgical-grade alumina with a minimum purity of 98.6 per cent at RMB 2,770 per tonneonne (USD 401.3 per tonne) including the 13 per cent VAT on Wednesday, up by a further RMB 7 per tonne from Tuesday. The increase reflected higher prices...
WEEKLY: China's alumina stocks climb to a new high on import arrivals, rail congestion
Total alumina stocks across the country's 10 major ports, 44 alumina producers, 89 primary aluminium smelters, and rail yards or in transit tracked by Mysteel reached a record 5.83 million tonnes as of March 19, up 1.1 per cent from a week earlier, according to Mysteel's survey. For the global...
GACC: China's bauxite imports jump 18.7 per cent during Jan-Feb
By month, China's imported bauxite totalled 19.25 million tonnes in January and 16.95 million tonnes in February, representing on-year increases of 19.3 per cent and 18.1 per cent respectively, the GACC data showed. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “...
GACC: China's Jan-Feb alumina exports fall 17 per cent y-o-y
Together with the combined figures for the two-month period, the GACC also provided a monthly breakdown, Mysteel Global noted. China's alumina exports reached 188,051 tonnes in January and 146,434 tonnes in February, down 4.8 per cent and 29.3 per cent on year, respectively, the GACC data showed....
Tesla in talks for $2.9bn solar equipment deal with Chinese suppliers
Tesla is reportedly in late-stage discussions with Chinese suppliers over a major order for solar manufacturing equipment, potentially worth about USD 2.9 billion. The move is part of its wider plan to expand solar production capacity within the United States. People familiar with the matter...
China's aluminium processing sector sees modest growth amid peak season demand
This week, the weekly operating rate of leading downstream aluminium processing enterprises in China edged up 1 percentage point w-o-w to 62.9per cent, with signs of the peak season slightly emerging and demand gradually being released. Specifically, the operating rates of leading enterprises in...
MYSTEEL: Middle East supply disruptions seen supporting China's aluminium prices
On March 18, the regional conflict had entered its third week, with its impact extending beyond market sentiment to materially disrupt primary aluminium smelting in several Middle Eastern countries, the report noted. For instance, on March 12, Qatalum, the 50/50 joint venture between Norsk Hydro...
NEA: China's power consumption jumps 6.1 per cent in Jan-Feb
The figure represents a record high for the January-February period, with the 6.1 per cent on-year rise also exceeding the upper end of the 5-6 per cent annual growth range that the China Electricity Council had forecast earlier this year, Mysteel Global observes. For the global aluminium...
Bauxite shipments rise 16% in 11 weeks of 2026 as China demand grows, but supply risks persist
Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) reported that in the first 11 weeks of 2026, global bauxite shipments increased by 16 per cent year-on-year. The growth was mainly because of demand from China for supplies from Guinea. Guinea accounted for 79 per cent of total shipments, while...
China’s aluminium inventories rise amidst Middle East supply disruption
Aluminium inventories in China have climbed above 1.3 million tonnes, reaching their highest level since 2020 as weak domestic demand coincides with tightening global supply linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global...
Lianhuashan Foundry unlocks higher quality and efficiency with real-time process data
By partnering with Monitizer, Lianhuashan Foundry brings every aspect of production into one clear view—unlocking greater efficiency, reducing energy costs, improving quality and increasing uptime. This data-driven approach empowers the team to lead the way in smart, sustainable manufacturing....
China's aluminium output remains high as Strait of Hormuz disruption affects supply
Commerzbank said China’s aluminium output has increased by about 3 per cent compared to last year. Production is now above the government’s annual cap. Higher aluminium prices and changes in alumina supply have supported this rise. Analyst Volkmar Baur said production is expected to stay above 3.75...
WEEKLY: China's alumina prices inch higher on tight spot availability, rising freight costs
On March 12, Mysteel assessed the national average spot price for metallurgical-grade alumina with a minimum purity of 98.6 per cent at RMB 2,692 per tonne (USD 390.7 per tonne), up by a further RMB 17per tonne from a week earlier. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global...
China gains as alumina reroutes from the Strait of Hormuz disrupts the Middle East supply
The rerouting of the raw materials away from the Middle East is suggested to be benefiting the Chinese aluminium producers. This is because China is receiving a higher amount of alumina, the precursor refined from bauxite, due to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. As a result, the country is...
