Weiqiao in China reduces Pre-baked anode purchasing prices; average price unchanged

According to Shanghai Metal Market on April 27, 2018, Weiqiao Group has reduced the purchasing prices of pre-baked anode. This is the fifth month in a row that the group has lowered the prices. For May, the prices are hovering at RMB 3390 per tonne in cash and RMB 3425 per tonne, which are RMB 200 per tonne lower than the previous month.

This indicates that the pre-baked anode prices for May have dwindled even below the average costs. Even for lower-cost producers, these prices are considered to be around the break-even line as they offer other discounts.

On the other hand, SMM updated on the same date that the average spot prices of pre-baked anode remained unchanged, all across the major Chinese markets. While in East and Central, the prices were standing at RMB 3625 per tonne and RMB 3600 per tonne; in South-west and North-west, the prices were heard at RMB 3900 per tonne and RMB 4200 per tonne respectively.

The average prices of pre-baked anode have been exhibiting this stable sentiment since the beginning of the month, without any further fluctuations. The last change in price in the East China market was witnessed on 2nd of April, 2018, when it plunged from RMB 3925 to RMB 3625 per tonne after a month. Similarly, in Central market, the last change was seen on April 3, 2018, when the price dwindled from RMB 3900 (after hovering at it for about a month) to RMB 3600 per tonne.

Other inputs costs, including alloys, bauxite, and aluminium fluoride also remained unchanged to stand at RMB 16000 per tonne, RMB 400 per tonne, and RMB 10000 per tonne respectively, according to SMM.