Energy costs drive China's August inflation as non-ferrous metals surge 20.8%
China's producer inflation accelerated in August as higher energy and non-ferrous metal prices pushed industrial costs higher, while weak domestic demand kept consumer inflation subdued. China's factory-gate inflation accelerated in August, with non-ferrous metal smelting and processing prices...
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...
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Macro policies remain positive, aluminium prices hit new highs during the week, fundamental negative feedback suppresses post-holiday upside momentum
From a macro perspective, domestic policies remained proactive. The domestic fiscal work conference held in Beijing clarified that a more proactive fiscal policy will continue in 2026, aiming to expand expenditure, boost domestic demand and consumption, with a focus on areas such as new quality...
LME throwback 2025: Aluminium vs copper price and inventory movement
When we look back at 2025, we will remember aluminium as the metal that cracked under policy pressure long before demand fundamentals forced anyone’s hand. On the other hand, if aluminium was the year’s political barometer, copper was its economic score. By late 2025, the LME had become a...
The other side of energy transition with rising solar waste – how circular economy matters
Who knew renewable energy, particularly solar, which itself is a cornerstone of the global energy transition and the most effective pathway to sustainability would trigger hazardous waste generation concern? The irony is hard to miss that as the world ramps up the share of renewable power in energy...
Off-Season, coupled with high aluminium prices, the proportion of liquid aluminium declined in December
According to SMM statistics, China's aluminium production in December 2025 (31 days) increased by 1.9 per cent Y-o-Y and 4.0 per cent m-o-m. The overall operating rate of downstream enterprises showed a downward trend during the month, and the proportion of liquid aluminium also declined, dropping...
Mahmoud Esmat’s visit to China promises a boost in Egypt’s localised cable manufacturing
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/ At the conclusion of his China tour, Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, disclosed prospects of deepening cooperation and localising the manufacture of electrical equipment in Egypt. Discussions with Chinese companies focused...
Year-end aluminium ingot inventory alert sounded! Domestic inventory buildup in Q1 2026 a foregone conclusion?
Image for referential purposes only (source: https://vilancealutech.com/) With the much-discussed issue of Xinjiang's shipping backlog coming to an end, domestic aluminium ingot inventories began to build up from mid-December, successively breaking through the 600,000-tonne and 650,000-tonne...
Capital structure revised by Aluminium Corporation of China for Chinalco-led joint venture
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited has provided an update on the formation of its previously announced joint venture with Chinalco, Yunnan Copper, Chihong Zinc & Germanium and Chinalco Capital. The new entity, Chinalco Qianxing (Chengdu) Technology Co., Ltd., has now been formally incorporated...
Tian Yuan Law Firm mediates the country’s largest A-share aluminium merger
Tian Yuan Law Firm has advised on a landmark RMB 63.5 billion (USD 8.75 billion) merger involving two subsidiaries of Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, setting a new record as the largest merger and acquisition undertaken by a privately owned company in China’s A-share market. The deal marks China...
China inaugurates world’s largest open sea offshore solar plant online
With the operational launch of the 1 GW HG14 offshore photovoltaic project, China has touched a significant milestone in renewable energy expansion. This is the world’s largest open-sea offshore solar power facility, which has been fully commissioned off the coast of Dongying in Shandong province....
WEEKLY: China's spot alumina market remains oversupplied
According to Mysteel's weekly survey, total smelter-grade alumina output among the 44 Chinese alumina refiners under Mysteel tracking ticked up marginally by 0.2 per cent on a week to 1.84 million tonnes during the December 19-25 week. During the same week, the average capacity utilisation rate...
SMM aluminium: Year-end trading weakens, spot discounts widen
The SHFE aluminium 2601 contract performed strongly in the morning session, with prices rising overall and the price centre significantly higher than the previous trading day. Trading sentiment in the East China market weakened overall, primarily affected by year-end enterprise settlement and...
Chongqing Jianto Aluminium comes up as a new secondary aluminium supplier for China’s NEVs
Chongqing Jianto Aluminium Co. Ltd., a Zhejiang-invested enterprise based in Fuling, Chongqing, is emerging as a key supplier of recycled aluminium to the city’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. Operating under the Zhejiang-Fuling cooperation framework, the company illustrates how cross-regional...
WEEKLY: China's coking coal output declines amid mine halts
The daily raw coal output of the 523 Chinese coking coal mines under Mysteel's tracking fell by 2.78 per cent from a week prior to reach an average of 1.87 million tonnes/day during December 18-24, nearing a two-month low. In parallel, their daily washed coal production over the same week also...
Cost side surges significantly, secondary aluminium prices rise actively
Futures: On Friday night, the most-traded cast aluminium alloy contract 2602 opened at RMB 21,310 per tonne, dipped to a low of RMB 21,205 per tonne during the session, then fluctuated upward, hitting a high of RMB 21,580 per tonne, and finally closed at RMB 21,545 per tonne, up RMB 155 per tonne...
2025 Chinese NEV roundup: A look at the year's most significant launches
In 2025, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market is accelerating into a new phase shaped by rapid technological breakthroughs and a reshaping of competitive dynamics. From intelligent MPVs designed for family mobility to ultra-high-end flagships built around performance and luxury, Chinese...
KDSBuilding’s new aluminium door comes with style while adhering to standards
Xiamen KDSBUILDING Material Co., Ltd, a China-based fenestration manufacturer, has announced its compliance with TITLE24 standards while launching new aluminium products. KDSBUILDING ensures the reliability of its aluminium fenestration systems, reinforced by strict, performance-driven regulatory...
The pace of inventory buildup for aluminium billets continues, with the decline in processing fees accelerating
According to SMM statistics, on December 25, the inventory of aluminium billets in mainstream domestic consumer areas stood at 124,500 tonnes, an increase of 1,500 tonnes from Monday's inventory and an increase of 5,000 tonnes from Thursday's inventory. According to SMM statistics, during the...
Environmental protection-driven production restrictions intensified, coupled with high aluminium prices suppressing demand, the operating rate of downstream aluminium processors weakened to 60.8 per cent
The weekly operating rate of leading domestic aluminium downstream processing enterprises fell 0.6 percentage points W-o-W to 60.8 per cent. Due to weak orders, environmental protection-related controls, and high aluminium prices, downstream operations further deepened into the off-season. By...
