Price
News
- [SMM Analysis] Weak Trading Sentiment but Strong Cost Support, Ternary Cathode Precursor Prices Edged Up
This week, ternary cathode precursor prices increased slightly, while sulphate prices were all flat today. Discounts, for April and Q2 orders, some producers were willing to raise discounts due to large fluctuations in raw material prices. Long-term contracts, some producers recently finalized long-term agreements. As downstream demand was relatively weak, discount increases were expected to be limited, but there was some room for negotiation on processing fees. Spot orders, the Ni-Co-Mn coefficient for spot orders rose this month, and with current downstream procurement sentiment weak, further upside room was expected to be limited. Production, leading producers in China and those with relatively large export orders still maintained high operating intensity. Looking ahead, recent sulphate costs provided strong support, but downstream acceptance remained subject to observation of downstream demand in Q2.
Mar 26, 2026 11:54 - Sellers Show a Strong Willingness to Hold Prices Firm, While Transaction Premiums Continue to Narrow [SMM Spot Aluminum Midday Commentary]
SMM News, March 25: In early trading, SHFE aluminum 2604 fluctuated downward, but was slightly higher than the previous trading day. Overall market buying sentiment was good, and sellers held prices firm as aluminum prices remained at relatively low levels. Later in the morning, SHFE aluminum 2604 fluctuated upward, with its center running higher than the previous trading day. Some sellers still did not quote prices, while some showed a notably stronger willingness to hold prices firm. Overall market buying sentiment was good. Today’s mainstream transaction prices were concentrated around the average price of the SHFE aluminum 04 contract to a premium of 10 yuan/mt. Today, the east China market shipment sentiment index was 2.64, up 0.01 WoW; the purchasing sentiment index was 2.42, up 0.02 WoW. Today, aluminum prices stopped falling and rebounded. Affected by the fear of further declines over the previous two days, traders and downstream processing enterprises in central China showed slightly improved buying sentiment today from the previous day, but overall transactions had not yet returned to a fully active state, and buyers tended to purchase at wider discounts. Ultimately, actual transaction prices in the central China market ranged from a discount of 20 yuan to a premium of 10 yuan against the central China price. Today, the central China market shipment sentiment index was 2.64, up 0.01 WoW; the purchasing sentiment index was 2.42, up 0.02 WoW. Inventory side, aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption regions increased by 4,000 mt from the previous period today, with Guangdong being the main source of destocking. In the short term, aluminum ingot continued its post-Chinese New Year seasonal inventory buildup. Supported by bullish sentiment, premiums are expected to remain on a narrowing trend.
Mar 25, 2026 13:59 - Silver Ingot Imports Surged in February 2026 to a Multi-Year High, Reshaping the Market Supply-Demand Pattern
The latest customs data showed that in February 2026, China’s imports of unwrought silver ingots with a purity of no less than 99.99% reached 206.76 mt, up 499% MoM and surging 5,910% YoY to a multi-year high. The rare opening of the import window drove significant changes in the supply-demand pattern of the domestic silver ingot market.
Mar 25, 2026 17:51 - Spot Trading Activity Cooled, Spot Premiums Held Steady [SMM North China Spot Copper]
Spot prices of #1 copper cathode in North China against the front-month contract were reported at a discount of 110 yuan/mt to a discount of 50 yuan/mt today, unchanged from the previous trading day, while the average transaction price rose 1,635 yuan/mt from the previous trading day to 95,595 yuan/mt.
Mar 25, 2026 11:20 - [SMM Nickel Sulphate Daily Review] March 25, Sluggish Market Transactions Keep Nickel Salt Prices Stable
On March 25, the SMM average price of battery-grade nickel sulphate remained stable.
Mar 25, 2026 13:05 - [SMM Hot Topic] Weak Domestic Demand + Export Diversion Cool the “North-to-South Steel Flow”
As supply and demand for construction steel were not fully matched across different markets, regional supply-demand mismatches created price differentiation, which in turn drove the cross-regional circulation of steel resources. When the regional price spread gradient was appropriate, regions with surplus construction steel capacity and production often shipped excess resources out, thereby rebalancing construction steel resources across regions.
Mar 24, 2026 15:54
Announcements
SMM launches the "SMM China Titanium Dioxide Price Index" to provide a transparent pricing reference and reflect market trends, effective from March 20, 2026.
PriceMar 19, 2026 11:59SMM officially released SMM: Sulfuric Acid Demand: Total: Annual data, with China as the data region.
DataMar 17, 2026 15:22To Valued Customers Dear Customers, To fully cover the price information across all links of the tungsten industry chain, accurately reflect the spot market trends of products such as low-grade tungsten concentrate, tungsten products, photovoltaic tungsten wire busbars and tungsten scrap, and help enterprises upstream and downstream of the industrial chain keep abreast of market changes and reduce trading risks, we have decided to add 11 new tungsten industry chain - related price points after conducting sufficient market research and in-depth communication with the industry. The new price points are detailed as follows: Scheelite Concentrate (25%-30% WO₃) : Compliant with the industrial standards applicable in Henan, Guangxi and Hunan regions. It refers to scheelite concentrate with a WO₃ content ranging from 25% to 30%. Unit: RMB per ton-unit of WO₃. Scheelite Concentrate (23%-25% WO₃) : Compliant with the industrial standard YS/T 231 - 2015. It refers to scheelite concentrate with a WO₃ content ranging from 23% to 25%. Unit: RMB per ton-unit of WO₃. Ammonium Metatungstate (AMT) : Compliant with the national standard GB/T 26033 - 2010. Its technical indicators are as follows: WO₃ content ≥ 81.5%, Fe content ≤ 0.0020%, Pb content ≤ 0.0001%, and Si content ≤ 0.0015%. Unit: RMB per ton. Wire-Drawing Tungsten Bar : Compliant with the requirements of the national standard GB/T 3459 - 2022, with a tungsten (W) content ≥ 99.95%. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Steelmaking Tungsten Bar : Compliant with the requirements of the national standard GB/T 3459 - 2022, with a tungsten (W) content ≥ 99.95%. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Cut-Resistant Tungsten Wire for Photovoltaic Applications (24μm - 30μm) : With a tungsten (W) content ≥ 99.95%, a diameter ranging from 24μm to 30μm, and a tensile strength of ≥ 3500MPa. Unit: RMB per kilometer. The above - listed prices are all ex - factory pick - up prices including 13% value - added tax (VAT). Details of the 5 New Tungsten Scrap Price Points Scrap Button Bits : Compliant with the quality requirements for cemented carbide scrap specified in the national standard GB/T 21182 - 2022. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Scrap Anvils : Compliant with the quality requirements for cemented carbide scrap specified in the national standard GB/T 21182 - 2022. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Scrap Roller Rings : Compliant with the quality requirements for cemented carbide scrap specified in the national standard GB/T 21182 - 2022. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Scrap Tungsten Chips/Wires : Compliant with the requirements of the national standard GB/T 26496 - 2011 Tungsten and Tungsten Alloy Scrap . It has a tungsten content ≥ 90% and no other inclusions. Unit: RMB per kilogram. Scrap Tungsten Blocks/Sheets : Compliant with the requirements of the national standard GB/T 26496 - 2011 Tungsten and Tungsten Alloy Scrap . It has a tungsten content ≥ 90% and no other inclusions. Unit: RMB per kilogram. The five tungsten scrap prices mentioned above are all excluding VAT. Effective Date The above - mentioned new price points will be officially released starting from November 21, 2025 and updated on each working day. The launch of these new price points aims to achieve more refined classification by region and grade. All the new price points are formulated based on mainstream industrial trading specifications and terms, which have been verified through a standardized price - data collection process. They are for market reference only and do not constitute trading decision - making advice. For details on the pricing methodology and specific product specifications, please visit our official platform. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Li Jiahui from SMM Tungsten and Molybdenum Analysis at 021 - 51666882.
PriceNov 20, 2025 14:47