According to the SMM survey, as of May 13, the operating rate of 50 electric furnace steel mills across China, which mainly produce building materials, was 37.16%, up 0.64% MoM from the previous period; the capacity utilisation rate was 38.63%, up 1.65% MoM; the daily average production of building materials was 86,000 mt, an increase of 3,700 mt MoM.

The procurement of lithium battery recycling declined in April, primarily due to inventory stockpiling by hydrometallurgical plants and the continuous downward trend in lithium salt prices.

In May, China's domestic aluminum ingot inventory successfully surpassed the 600,000 mt mark, demonstrating strong resilience in domestic aluminum consumption during the critical transition phase between the off-season and peak season, providing crucial support for the recent consecutive upward trend in aluminum prices. According to SMM statistics, as of May 15, the inventory of aluminum ingots at major domestic consumption hubs stood at 581,000 mt, a decrease of 20,000 mt from Monday this week, down 39,000 mt WoW from Thursday last week, and 166,000 mt YoY, remaining at a low level compared to the same period in the past three years. However, it is noteworthy that aluminum prices have rebounded and risen consecutively in mid-May, with aluminum prices breaking through the 20,000 yuan per mt threshold, which has somewhat suppressed downstream restocking demand. There have been noticeable signs of a decline in domestic outflows from warehouses over the past week, potentially gradually returning to off-season levels. SMM forecasts that...

[Weekly Review of Secondary Aluminum Market]This week, the price center of secondary aluminum alloy moved slightly upward. As of May 15, the SMM ADC12 price increased by 100 yuan/mt WoW to the range of 20,300-20,500 yuan/mt. The market presented a pattern of intertwined strengthening cost support and insufficient demand.

This week, the lithium carbonate market has shown a certain fluctuating upward trend, but the overall market still faces numerous challenges. The SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index price rose from 64,808 yuan/mt to 65,061 yuan/mt, with a cumulative increase of 253 yuan/mt.