The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) dropped again this month, falling by one point to 83.
All but one of the prices tracked for the index dropped this month, with India’s primary cash price showing the biggest drop at 4.4%, followed by the LME primary 3-month price (down by 3.4%).
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LME aluminum prices weakened into early August and moved sideways until early September, when prices moved toward the $1,800/mt range.
Source: MetalMiner analysis of London Metal Exchange (LME) and FastMarkets.
SHFE Aluminum Prices Gained Recently, But Momentum Looks Weak
Source: MetalMiner analysis of FastmarketsSHFE aluminum prices increased recently, but upward momentum still looks weak, comparatively speaking.Overall, the price is still moving in a sideways band below the CNY 14,500/mt level where it has traded during the past year or so; however, it looks set to break through this resistance price soon.As reported by MetalMiner’s Stuart Burns, China’s top state primary aluminum producer, Chalco, reported an 8% drop in output for the first half of the year, compared with the same period of 2018. Primary aluminum production totaled 1.89 million tons, compared to 2.06 million tons during the first six months of 2018.Additionally, outages brought output down temporarily, including flooding at Hongqiao. As a result of the outages, exports dropped to the lowest level since February. According to Reuters, exports dropped to 466,000 tons in August, down around 10% when compared with August 2018.
Global Demand Weakness Continues
While demand in the United States remained relatively stable, demand in other regions looks weaker.
Norsk Hydro recently announced plans to close some aluminum foil production in Germany as part of restructuring efforts aimed at increasing the profitability of its rolled products business.
Novelis’ Acquisition of Aleris Under Scrutiny
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit objecting to Novelis Inc.’s purchase of Aleris Corporation on Sept. 4 due to concerns over higher future prices for automotive aluminum sheet.According to an issued statement, competition would be hindered, with Novelis controlling 60% of projected domestic capacity.
U.S. Aluminum Premiums
The U.S. Midwest Premium remains at around $0.18/pound.
What This Means for Industrial Buyers
The sideways to bearish market for aluminum led to the index decline. Buying organizations will need to pay careful attention to short-, medium- and long-term buying signals.Buying organizations interested in tracking industrial metals prices with ease should request a demo of the MetalMiner Insights platform.Buying organizations seeking more insight into longer-term steel price trends should read MetalMiner’s Annual Metal Buying Outlook.
Actual Metal Prices and Trends
European commercial 1050 sheet increased by 1.3% to $2393/mt. European 5083 plate dropped by 2.1% to $2,729/mt.
India’s primary cash price dropped by 4.4% to $1.94/kilogram.
The LME primary 3-month price dropped by 3.4% to $1,746/mt.
Korean commercial 1050 sheet, 5052 coil premium over 1050, and 3003 coil premium over 1050 all decreased by less than 1%, to $2.96, $3.12 and $3.00 per kilogram, respectively.
Chinese prices all declined by under 1%. Aluminum billet priced at $2,061/mt, while bar priced at $2,729/mt. China’s aluminum scrap price dropped the most, by 0.9%, to $1,813/mt. The primary cash price stayed essentially flat at $2,015/mt.
Article by Belinda Fuller