According to SMM statistics, as of June 12, in-factory inventory days for aluminum rod in China stood at 2.66 days, a sharp decline of 1.25 days WoW from 3.91 days on June 5, with the inventory ratio plunging from 37.45% to 9.28%, a drop of 28.17 percentage points. During the same period, the weekly operating rate of the aluminum wire and cable industry recorded 82.10%, up 1.76 percentage points WoW
Jun 17, 2026 16:35Semi-Annual Review and Outlook: Rigid Demand Steadily Released, High-end High-Induction Grain-Oriented Steel Expected to Maintain Stable and Improving Trend
Jun 17, 2026 11:21According to the SMM survey, as of June 16, the operating rate of the 50 EAF steel mills nationwide that mainly produce construction steel stood at 41.7%, up 0.86% WoW; the capacity utilization rate was 43.07%, up 0.74% WoW; and daily average construction steel production was 95,900 mt, up 1,700 mt WoW.
Jun 16, 2026 17:43Semi-Annual Review and Outlook: Capacity Expansion Continues to Suppress Prices, Non-oriented Struggles to Shake Off Downturn Shadow
Jun 11, 2026 14:15As of June 9, the operating rate of 50 EAF steel mills in China mainly producing construction steel stood at 40.9%, down 0.30% WoW; the capacity utilization rate was 42.33%, down 0.37% WoW; and daily average construction steel production reached 94,300 mt, down 800 mt WoW.
Jun 9, 2026 17:52Philippine ore quotes flat MoM, market awaits new pricing window This week, nickel ore prices in the Philippine market were basically stable compared to last week. CIF China quotes: Ni 1.3% at $49-52/wmt, 1.4% at $57-60, and 1.5% at $65-67; quotes for shipment to Indonesia were 1.3% at around $48-50 and 1.4% at around $56-58. No obvious loosening or upward adjustment was seen across grades for either CIF China or CIF Indonesia quotes, with miners tending towards conservative quotation intentions. Supply side, Philippine shipments were relatively ample overall this week, with no noticeable tightening in market cargo supply. Mines maintained normal loading pace, and no major weather disruptions interfered with the supply chain. Market participants generally expect new rounds of price announcements in the coming weeks, and the near-term ore price direction awaits clearer signals from these pricing markers before further assessment. Demand side, large smelters in China and Indonesia jointly pushed for lower prices, leveraging ample inventory. Shipping volumes to Indonesia were somewhat lower than last month, with buyers clearly dominating price negotiations. As of June 5, nickel ore inventory at Chinese ports reached 5.36 million mt, up 110,000 mt MoM, equivalent to approximately 42,100 mt Ni in metal content; Indonesian smelter inventory continued to accumulate simultaneously. Rising inventory levels at both locations indicate that the demand side is unlikely to provide effective support in the near term. Divergence between sellers and buyers was significant, and the price center edged lower amid a tug-of-war between cost support and weak demand, with overall market sentiment subdued. Continued pushback on raw material prices by smelters caused the price center for nickel ore CIF to shift further downwards, providing extremely weak support for Philippine ore FOB prices. Indonesian nickel ore market: Indonesian ore prices under downward pressure, persistently low grades constrain supply quality This week, Indonesian nickel ore market prices came under downward pressure overall, with the official reference price recording a slight correction, as cost tug-of-war across the industry chain persisted. Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) officially released the HMA for the first half of June 2026: nickel price at $18,799.29/mt (down $50 from $18,849.29/mt in the second half of May 2026); cobalt price at $55,851.43/mt; iron ore price at $1.58/mt; chrome ore price at $6.37/mt. Based on SMM's internal calculation model, simulations for saprolite ore (Fe 20%, Cr 1%, Co 0.05%) show theoretical HPM prices for all grades slightly lower from the previous period. The theoretical HPM price for Ni 1.6% grade was approximately $70.75/wmt (down $0.08 MoM), and for Ni 1.2% grade was approximately $49.84/wmt (down $0.10 MoM). In terms of transaction prices, this week, delivery-to-factory prices for 1.6% grade saprolite ore were quoted at $73.8–78.8/wmt, down MoM, representing a premium range of +$3 to +$8/mt over the theoretical HPM price of $70.75/wmt. The premium narrowed significantly from earlier highs, reflecting the combined impact of sustained smelter pushback on prices and ample supply, and significantly squeezing miners' profit margins. This week, actual spot prices for 1.2% grade limonite ore were around $28–33/wmt, representing a discount of approximately $17–22 against the theoretical HPM calculated price of $49.84/wmt, with the discount depth remaining severe. Despite the slight adjustment in the HMA reference price, spot limonite ore prices failed to follow at all, heavily constrained by low downstream HPAL capacity utilization rates and tight sulphuric acid supply, with a serious disconnect between the two. Supply side, domestic ore supply in Indonesia improved this week, with overall supply relatively loose. However, ore grades remained persistently low, with mainstream circulated grades in the market around 1.45%–1.50% Ni range. High-grade saprolite ore (≥1.6%) remained a scarce resource, and some smelters faced difficulties supplementing high-grade ore sources, compelling increased blending operations with lower grades. According to the latest BMKG maritime meteorological data, weather conditions in the Morowali waters were good this week, with wave heights of 0.4–0.5 meters (low waves) and stable winds, leaving vessel operations unaffected; weather turned somewhat adverse in the East Halmahera waters, experiencing light rain, northeast winds at 9–10 knots, and wave heights reaching 1.4–2.0 meters (moderate waves), with BMKG issuing a wave alert, requiring heightened attention to shipping operations; the Obi waters also experienced light rain, southeast winds at 13–14 knots, and wave heights of 1.3–1.6 meters (moderate waves), with BMKG also issuing a wave height alert, somewhat impacting ore shipment efficiency. Demand side, overall raw ore inventory at smelters remained at relatively sufficient levels. SMM data shows that in May, the nickel ore inventory coverage index for pyrometallurgy smelters was about 2 months, and the cycle inventory index for HPAL hydrometallurgy plants was about 1.7 months, leaving little appetite for near-term restocking and a clear inclination to push for lower ore prices. In the limonite ore market, the tight supply of sulphuric acid had yet to fundamentally improve, with pressure on MHP production persisting. Operating rates at some hydrometallurgy producers remained low, and purchasing prices for limonite ore came under pressure. Policy level, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs confirmed at a meeting yesterday that the DSI ferroalloy export takeover mechanism would formally enter a transition period starting June 1, 2026 (through August), with full implementation required by January 1, 2027, at the latest. The minister confirmed at the meeting the HS codes for ferroalloys included in the takeover scope. Given that nearly all Indonesian NPI exports are declared under HS code 7202.60.00, and this code has been confirmed as included within the DSI takeover scope, NPI is highly likely to be covered by the DSI export takeover. The complete official regulatory text has yet to be officially released, and final confirmation remains subject to official announcement. However, Chinese-invested smelters should begin assessing the potential impact of the transition period on export logistics and compliance costs. In addition, while reiterating its commitment to honoring existing valid long-term contract commercial credit, the government will strictly investigate contracts suspected of "low-price customs declarations." Relevant authorities will soon commence consultations with major industry associations to close loopholes causing tax revenue losses from low pricing. According to markets outside China, Harita Nickel's PT Trimegah Bangun Persada has taken the lead in submitting a ferronickel export report through the DSI "single window" system. CEO Roy Arman Arfandy stated that the export process has been operating normally since June 2, progressing relatively smoothly overall.
Jun 8, 2026 00:33To better serve industrial clients and more closely align with the market, SMM has added a weekly price for 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne, which will be officially launched on the SMM website (smm.cn) on December 19, 2025. 1. SMM 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne Methodology 1.1 SMM Price Assessment Methodology General Provisions Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) is a fully independent third-party service organization that does not participate in any actual transactions. Instead, it maintains close communication with buyers or sellers in the market as an observer or organizer and provides relevant services to the market. SMM continuously develops, reviews, and revises its methodology through communication with industry professionals, adopting the most common product specifications, trade terms, and trade conditions in the industry. Equal importance is given to normal transactions that meet the standard specifications. SMM reserves the right to exclude any price information deemed less reliable or unrepresentative from its price assessments. SMM publishes daily spot metal prices (or price indices, including those for the Chinese market, markets outside China, and global markets), commonly referred to as SMM prices. For each published SMM price, a corresponding methodology is established (all of which are available for reference on SMM’s official website, www.smm.cn). The methodology specifies the methods and procedures for generating and publishing SMM prices, and SMM strictly adheres to these guidelines when producing and releasing SMM prices. To align with the actual conditions of the spot market, SMM will make necessary revisions to the SMM price assessment methodology and announce these revisions on the official website www.smm.cn 28 days before their formal implementation. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding SMM prices or the methodology, please contact SMM customer service (contact information can be found on the official website www.smm.cn ). This document specifies the standards for formulating the weekly RC for 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne. The purpose of establishing this standard by SMM is to create a transparent and verifiable mechanism for SMM price formation. The SMM Benchmark Management Committee also regularly reviews the methodology and its assessment and publication processes. This committee oversees SMM’s methodology and compilation procedures, ensuring that the prices or indices accurately reflect the objective conditions of the physical spot market for the relevant commodities. If the committee identifies any issues, it will promptly highlight them and propose external consultation and revisions to the ongoing methodology or processes, thereby improving the quality of SMM’s published prices or indices. The committee may only propose modifications to the methodology and procedures used for future price or index assessments it cannot alter already published prices or indices. 2. Formation of 8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne. 2.1 Significance of the Price Assessment Current copper rod industry faces increasingly prominent overcapacity issues, with low capacity utilization rates. The market for ordinary power-grade rods suffers from homogenized competition, processing fees are caught in internal competition, and profit margins for most enterprises are severely compressed. Against this backdrop, the copper rod industry is gradually transitioning toward high-quality development, enhancing product added value, expanding profit margins, and progressively addressing the structural imbalance of "excess low-end supply and insufficient high-end supply." Tin-plated copper rods, leveraging characteristics such as oxidation resistance, ease of welding, and strong stability due to the tin coating, meet the demands of high-end sectors like new energy vehicles and electronic devices. With the continuous expansion of emerging industries such as new energy and 5G communication, the tin-plated copper rod market holds broad prospects and will become a key direction for the transformation and upgrading of the copper processing industry. 2.2 SMM 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne Price Assessment Methodology 2.2.1 Product Specifications and Standards Given the wide variety of tin-plated copper rod specifications, SMM adopts the 1.8mm diameter, which holds a relatively high market share, as the basis for quoting tin-plated copper rod processing fees, with reference to the standard GB/T3952-2016 Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes. 2.2.2 Price Terms Ex-works, China, 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod premium top on SMM 1# Copper Cathode 2.2.3 Payment Terms cash, other terms normalized. 2.2.4 Delivery Time Within 3 days. 2.2.5 Reference Transaction Volume Min 1 tones. 2.2.6 Delivery Location China 2.2.7 Price Release Time Weekly, by 11:30 am Beijing time, last working day of every week. 2.2.8 Processing Fee Format The reported processing fees are presented as a range, indicating the lowest and highest prices. For example: 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne range 3,000–4,000 yuan/tonne, average: 3,500 yuan/tonne. 2.2.9 Price Collection Methodology SMM will, in accordance with the price collection confirmation agreement, have price analysts regularly collect price information from copper foil industry price contacts via phone, QQ, WeChat, fax, and email. This price information includes concluded transaction prices, the enterprise's expected most likely pending transaction prices, etc. All instant messaging content, email communications, and any records of face-to-face communications will be archived details of phone communications will be recorded and entered into the database. SMM analysts must comply with the Compliance System when reporting any forced or threatened communications from market participants, or any induced offers attempting to influence the assessment. Once published, SMM will not revise or adjust the price on the same day. 2.2.10 Standardization of Data Although SMM has standardized definitions for our prices, diversity exists in market transactions. The price of each transaction is influenced by numerous factors, including order size, brand of goods, delivery time, payment terms, etc. SMM will comprehensively consider market offers, bids, and transaction information, aligning them with our standards. Each price datum will be electronically recorded or accompanied by written records. All electronic and paper records must be archived by price collection personnel and retained long-term (at least 5 years) in secure network and physical environments. For details, please refer to the SMM Data Retention Policy. 2.2.11 Price Assessment Process The specific process is as follows: 2.3 Methodology Changes All markets change, and SMM has a responsibility to ensure that the methodology for market reports evolves with the market. Therefore, SMM will regularly conduct internal reviews of the methodology's appropriateness based on industry feedback. For all substantive but non-urgent potential modifications, SMM will follow a formal external consultation process. Major changes will then be announced with a notice period of at least 28 days, inviting industry comments, unless special circumstances, particularly force majeure (natural disasters, war, exchange bankruptcy, etc.), necessitate a shorter notice period. SMM is committed to carefully considering all comments on proposed methodology changes, but in some cases, it may be necessary to proceed with changes contrary to the wishes of some market participants. Additionally, SMM has a formal methodology consultation process. SMM commits to holding a formal consultation on the methodology every three years. The date of the last consultation and the deadline for the next consultation committed by SMM are located at the top of the methodology document. 2.4 Compliance with SMM Policies All relevant SMM employees must not only comply with the methodology published by SMM but also adhere to SMM's internal standards and policies. These include: SMM Conflict of Interest Policy, SMM Whistleblower Policy, SMM Error Correction Policy, SMM Methodology Review Consultation and Change Policy, SMM Complaints Policy, etc. Welcome more relevant enterprises in the industry chain to participate and support SMM in better serving related enterprises in the Copper Cathode Rod industry chain. For inquiries, please contact: Shanghai Metals Market Copper Research Team, Xinyang Wang Contact: 021-20707846, +86 15762822325
PriceDec 11, 2025 19:27