SMM, December 19:
Aluminum prices fell again today, with a decline of over 700 yuan/mt in five days, while aluminum scrap prices remained stable with slight decreases. Currently, aluminum scrap circulation remains tight, and traders are reluctant to sell amid continuous price drops. Today, SMM A00 spot aluminum closed at 19,680 yuan/mt, down 110 yuan/mt from yesterday. Domestic aluminum scrap followed the decline within a range of 0-100 yuan/mt. Today's baled UBC aluminum scrap was quoted lower by 0-100 yuan/mt to 14,900-15,425 yuan/mt (excluding tax), while shredded aluminum tense scrap remained stable at 15,900-17,100 yuan/mt (liquid aluminum, excluding tax). Re-melting ingot prices fell by 50 yuan/mt today, following aluminum price declines. Recently, there has been an inversion in overseas re-melting ingot imports, and future port arrivals of re-melting ingots are expected to decrease. In the short term, due to weather conditions, some yards have reduced their purchasing activity. Additionally, limited imports of aluminum scrap, constrained by port clearance issues and the inverted price spread between domestic and overseas markets, have further tightened aluminum scrap supply. Under undersupply conditions, short-term aluminum scrap prices have shown limited declines, and the price difference between primary metal and scrap has narrowed.
