Aluminium Ingot
China’s aluminium imports flat, exports slump; molten-metal shift keeps physical ingot tight despite 163,600 tonnes net inflow
According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China(GACC), China’s primary aluminium imports totalled 185,500 tonnes in August 2026, down 14.65 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and up just 0.16 per cent month-on-month (MoM). For January–August, cumulative imports reached 1.66 million tonnes, down 3.41 per cent YoY. August exports stood at 21,900 tonnes, down 14.53 per cent YoY and 30.48 per cent MoM. Cumulative exports for the first eight months were 167,500 tonnes, up 9.26 per cent YoY. Net imports in August came to 163,600 tonnes, down 14.67 per cent YoY but up 6.44 per cent MoM; the January–August cumulative net import total was 1.49 million tonnes, down 4.65 per cent YoY. In aggregate terms, August imports were essentially flat MoM while...
Inventory changes of aluminium ingots and billets around the 2026 National Day
According to SMM statistics, changes in aluminium ingot and aluminium billet (collectively referred to as aluminium inventory) inventories in major consumption areas in China around the National Day holiday, 2020-2026: overall destocking before the holiday, with the most concentrated inventory buildup during the holiday. During the one-week National Day holiday from 2020 to 2025, aluminium ingots, aluminium billets, and total aluminium inventory all saw inventory buildup (aluminium ingots up 4.0 per cent -17.3 per cent, aluminium billets up 12.7 per cent -66.0 per cent, total aluminium inventory up 6.9 per cent -21.2 per cent ). In the second week after the holiday, aluminium ingots did not see further inventory buildup except in 2021, while aluminium billets destocked in all six years....
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15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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News
PMI recovers in peak season with structural divergence; macro pressure combined with pre-holiday adjustment dominates market
Futures: The most-traded SHFE aluminium contract opened at RMB 23,895 per tonne in the night session on September 29, reached a high of RMB 23,960 per tonne and a low of RMB 23,845 per tonne, and closed at RMB 23,910 per tonne, down RMB 110 per tonne or 0.46 per cent from the previous close. Futures came under pressure and weakened, with prices falling below the 5/10/20/40/60 moving averages across all timeframes. All moving averages turned downward, and bearish pressure was evident. Trading volume during the session was 57,873 lots, with open interest at 267,000 lots, up 1,187 lots, driven mainly by bearish position building. On the technical front, the 4-hour MACD death cross continued, with DIFF well below DEA and the green histogram expanding further, as bearish momentum continued to...
Aluminium prices consolidate ahead of National Day holiday; watch for post-holiday inventory buildup and concentrated arrivals risks
1. Macro perspective The US-Iran conflict entered its second week. After the escort coalition intervened, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz partially recovered, but war risk insurance rates remained elevated. Brent crude pulled back from a high of USD 101 to consolidate around USD 95, with energy cost support weakening from earlier levels but not yet fading. The US Fed delivered a 25bp rate hike at its September FOMC meeting, and the dot plot indicated one more hike may still occur this year. Chair Warsh struck a hawkish tone in his post-meeting remarks, and the US dollar index held at a 13-month high. Next week, attention turns to China's official PMI on September 30, as well as US PCE and non-farm payrolls data during the National Day holiday—with China's market closed for seven days...
China Aug aluminium imports down 14.7% Y-o-Y, Russia accounts for 96% of supply
According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), China's total primary aluminium imports reached 185,500 tonnes in August 2026, down 14.65 per cent year-on-year but up 0.16 per cent month-on-month. Total imports for January-August amounted to 1.66 million tonnes, a decrease of 3.41 per cent year-on-year. The 14.65 per cent year-on-year decline in August imports, coupled with a nearly flat month-on-month performance, indicates that imports have not collapsed but rather maintained a steady inflow. In August, China's total primary aluminium exports stood at 21,900 tonnes, down 14.53 per cent year-on-year and 30.48 per cent month-on-month. Cumulative exports for January-August totalled 167,500 tonnes, up 9.26 per cent year-on-year....
Import & export: Muted demand for re-export trade, slight recovery in net imports of primary aluminium
Primary aluminium imports: According to data from the General Administration of Customs, domestic primary aluminium imports stood at approximately 186,000 tonnes in August 2026, up 0.2 per cent month-on-month and down 14.6 per cent year-on-year. Cumulative domestic primary aluminium imports from January to August 2026 reached roughly 1.657 million tonnes, a year-on-year decline of 3.4 per cent. Primary aluminium exports: Customs data showed domestic primary aluminium exports were around 22,000 tonnes in August 2026, dropping 30.7 per cent month-on-month and 14.7 per cent year-on-year. Cumulative primary aluminium exports between January and August 2026 totalled approximately 168,000 tonnes, representing a year-on-year increase of about 9.3 per cent. Net imports of primary aluminium:...
Pre-holiday destocking trend of aluminium ingots continues, providing strong support for aluminium prices fluctuating at highs
SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 24,230 per tonne, edging up 0.02 per cent. The price was capped by MA5 (24,259) but remained above MA10 (24,207) and MA30 (24,088), with the mid-term bullish structure intact. On the MACD indicator, DIF stood at 92.18 and DEA at 118.60, forming a death cross above the zero axis, with the green bars expanding to -52.85, indicating strengthening bearish momentum. Trading volume expanded to 76,000 lots, reflecting widening bull-bear divergence. The core trading range for SHFE aluminium is suggested at 24,000-24,600. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,248.5 per tonne, edging down 0.05 per cent. The price broke below MA5 (3,264.1), MA10 (3,261.37), and MA30 (3,262.88), with short-term moving averages exerting pressure, though MA60 (3,227) still provided support. On the...
Aluminium prices gain phased support as China-US presidential meeting approaches and destocking accelerates
SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 24,195 per tonne last night, down 0.45 per cent. The price broke below MA5 (24,445) and MA10 (24,262.5), but remained above MA30 (24,083) and MA60 (23,700), with moving averages showing short-term bearish pressure and mid-term bullish support. The MACD indicator showed DIF at 105.8 and DEA at 131.0, with a death cross at high levels and the green bars expanding to -50.36, indicating strengthening short-term bearish momentum. Trading volume was 64,700 lots, below the MA5 average volume, reflecting cautious market participation. The core trading range for SHFE aluminium is suggested at 24,000-24,600. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,274.5 per tonne, edging up 0.35 per cent. The price was slightly below MA5 (3,280.7) and MA10 (3,279.1), but remained above MA30...
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