
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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Insufficient fundamental drivers, aluminum fluoride prices under pressure
In January, aluminium fluoride prices edged up, supported by strong cost-side sulfuric acid prices. During the month, SMM aluminium fluoride prices closed at RMB 10,750-11,060 per tonne, while the cryolite market remained stable overall, with SMM cryolite quotes holding steady at RMB 7,000-9,000...

Global aluminium production surge propels the increased demand for bauxite trade
Global primary aluminium production has expanded sharply since 2000, although the annual growth rate, remaining at 1.06 per cent , has been the lowest. However, a direct comparison with the 2000 data shows aluminium output increasing by a staggering 199 per cent. This increase in production has...

SHFE takes dual measures to stabilise the market: Aluminium ingot delivery expansion and risk control upgrade hedge soaring prices and supply-demand imbalance
On January 28, 2026, domestic aluminium prices surged to a new high, driven by multiple factors. The weighted open interest of SHFE aluminium surged by 93,000 lots in a single day, with trading activity exploding. The core drivers of the price increase were disruptions in trade due to US-Iran...

Is aluminium scrap quietly rewriting the global metals playbook, especially with EU scrap tension, solar PV & India's new policies?
Aluminium scrap is quickly becoming a crucial battleground for the global metals industry. There is a mix of changing trade patterns, soaring prices, stricter regulations and urgent decarbonisation goals all coming together. Europe is increasingly worried about scrap leakage, while Asia is becoming...

Slower growth, faster realignment: The upstream aluminium chain rewrites its rules in 2026
As 2026 begins, the upstream aluminium value chain is expanding under rising pressure. New capacity is coming online, capital is returning to upstream assets, and prices are reacting more sharply to supply risk. Leadership reshuffles and cross-border partnerships point to a sector repositioning for...

Pakistan's aluminium ore exports to China hit record $14M
Pakistan’s aluminium ore exports to China hit a record USD 14.16 million in 2025, a stunning leap that underscores the shifting dynamics of bilateral trade and industrial demand. Data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) shows that aluminium ores and concentrates surged from just...

Two Shanxi bauxite mine auctions aborted in January
* Auctions for exploration rights to two bauxite mine blocks in North China's Shanxi province were aborted within less than a week in January, according to information published on the province's online natural resources trading platform. On January 26, an auction for the exploration rights to the...

As aluminium prices experienced a correction, spot discounts remained under pressure
SHFE aluminium 2602 fluctuated downward in the morning session, with the price centre lower than the previous trading day. Due to high aluminium prices and the Chinese New Year break at downstream processing enterprises, overall market buying sentiment remained weak. The mainstream transaction...

DAILY: Chinese spot alumina prices largely flat, futures gain further
According to Mysteel's daily price assessment, the national average spot price for metallurgical-grade alumina with a minimum purity of 98.6 per cent came in at RMB 2,648 per tonne (USD 381 per tonne), including the 13 per cent VAT on Wednesday, nudging down by RMB 1 per tonne from the day prior....

ASI certifies Shandong Chuanghui New Material Technology Co., Ltd. against Performance Standard V3.1
Shandong Innovation Group Co., Ltd. has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023) for the production of electrical round aluminium rods at Shandong Chuanghui New Material Technology Co., Ltd.’s two facilities in Zouping County, Shandong Province, China. To know the aluminium market outlook for...

ASI certifies Nikkei M.C. Aluminum (Kunshan) Co., Ltd against Performance Standard V3.1
Nikkei M.C. Aluminum (Kunshan) Co., Ltd has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023) for the production of cast aluminium alloy ingots and molten aluminium at their facility located in Jiangsu Province, China. To know the aluminium market outlook for 2026 and beyond, get an access to our...

Growing aluminium scrap consumption in China leads to a 5-year high import – Is this mirroring the US journey from primary to scrap?
For years, aluminium strength was measured in smelters and megawatts. Primary metal sat at the heart of industrial growth, and power determined who could scale and who could not. That formula is starting to lose its hold. In both China and the United States - the world’s two largest aluminium...

WEEKLY: China's alumina inventory build persists despite output cuts
China's alumina output edged down last week as several producers in Henan and Guizhou provinces and in the Guangxi autonomous region scaled back production to carry out 10-14 days of maintenance, either to curb atmospheric pollution or to control operating costs.News of the production curtailments...
Aluminium foil exports declined 14% overall in 2025, with both resilience and variables in 2026 exports
According to customs data, China's aluminium foil exports (customs tariff codes 76071110, 76071120, 76071190, 76071900, 76072000) totalled 110,900 tonnes in December 2025, up 1 per cent M-o-M from November but down 4 per cent Y-o-Y. Cumulative aluminium foil exports for full-year 2025 reached...

MYSTEEL: China's coking coal market to see mild recovery in 2026
The Chinese coking coal market is expected to undergo a new phase of rebalancing in 2026, shaped by both supportive and restrictive policy impacts. While these mixed forces are anticipated to drive up coking coal prices, a persistent uptrend is unlikely to be seen this year due to persistent...

World primary aluminium production growth hits 5-year low in 2025 as GCC output weakens and China nears 45MT ceiling
Going by the world primary aluminium production trend since 2020, 2025 saw the slowest pace in half a decade, reflecting a structural shift rather than a cycling dip. According to the International Aluminium Institute, world primary aluminium production grew by only 1.06 per cent, a sharpest...

InfiMotion technology showcases leading e-drive solutions at CES 2026
As the premier global tech event kicking off the new year, CES (Consumer Electronics Show) opened grandly in Las Vegas, bringing together innovative products from thousands of technology companies worldwide. It serves as a key platform for unveiling the latest advancements in future technologies....

Structural transformation in aluminium semis exports, processing trade charts a new course
On December 1, 2024, the "Announcement on Adjusting Export Tax Rebate Policies" officially took effect, marking the end of the 13 per cent export tax rebate for aluminium semis and copper semis products. This policy adjustment not only directly impacted the traditional export model dominated by...

