Thing may appear better in China than they are, at least as far as the country’s metals and minerals markets are concerned. However, China still remains the go-to destination for European steel and aluminum supply. Energy-sensitive European factories and aluminum smelters remain stranded due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Western Europe’s gas and electricity supplies […]
Tag: Aluminum
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Decline as Energy Crisis Worsens
This week, aluminum prices approached long-term weekly demand zones. These are price levels that typically trigger a strong upswing. Before the most recent short-term declines, prices bounced off these levels, rising back into zones of strong downward movement (supply zones). Should prices continue to break downward, it could indicate a downtrend continuation. Moreover, the longer […]
Base Metal Prices Contradict the Changing Supply Scenario
Given the state of the world, one would expect base metal prices to show every sign of a resurgence. Certainly, analysts have been bullish about a supply squeeze for months because sky-high natural gas prices forced record electricity costs across Europe. Just this week, the FT reported that Aluminum and Zinc smelters continue to close […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Consolidate 39% Beneath March Peak
After seeing a short-term bullish rebound in July, aluminum prices began to modestly decline again in early August. All in all, the rebound was insufficient to suggest a bullish reversal. As such, global aluminum prices remain within a macro downtrend despite recent directional uncertainty. The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) dropped by 2.4% month over […]
Aluminum Prices Drop Sharply Amid Increasing European Challenges
A curious tug of war continues in the Aluminum industry. It remains focused on likely demand destruction due to recessionary forces, generally blamed on central banks’ rapid raising of interest rates. Of course, we’ve all watched base metals come off sharply since the end of Q1, and Aluminum has been no exception. Indeed, after peaking […]
Aluminum Prices: Is China Turning on the Stimulus Taps?
It is not an idle question. For the last two decades, China’s infrastructure spending has been the engine of demand growth for steel, copper, and aluminum prices. So when the South China Morning Post reported that local governments sold 1.94 trillion yuan (US$289 billion) worth of bonds in June to fund infrastructure spending and boost […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Plummet to 12-Month Low
Aluminum prices continue to display a macro downtrend. Shorter-term trading ranges are forming but also breaking quickly, signaling further bearish sentiment. Simultaneously, breakouts to the downside seem to indicate a lack of bullish strength and support. Altogether, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) dropped by 8.06% month over month. The MetalMiner Insights platform includes global […]
Do Aluminum Smelter Shutdowns Impact Physical Delivery Premiums?
Soaring power costs in Europe wrecked havoc on the aluminum industry. In fact, several aluminum smelter sites have partially or temporarily shuttered this year. As most people know, power costs surged starting last year due to increasing oil and natural gas prices. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine turbo-charged this escalation. With Ukraine being a key […]
International Commodities Market Fluctuates, Global Slowdown Impending
Mexico’s steel metal market recently saw a slowdown on metal prices, leading experts to believe that Mexico’s industrial metal market may soon turn bearish. Flat steel prices, along with long steel prices, have been dropping over the past several weeks. In fact, Mexico’s steel prices have been in steady decline since April. However, in mid-May, […]
Aluminum prices, stock and delivery premiums veer in different directions
So far this year, on LME aluminum trading, inventory levels have directly correlated with price direction. Aluminum demand has outstripped supply causing falling inventory levels, and many assume prices are due to rise, except they’re not. According to a Reuters report, LME inventories fell steadily this year with total inventory down by 479,000 metric tons […]
