SMM May 13 News: Metals market: As of the midday close, base metals in the domestic market generally rose. SHFE copper gained 1.63%. SHFE aluminum rose 0.3%. SHFE lead fell 0.15%. SHFE zinc gained 1.46%. SHFE tin rose 0.08%. SHFE nickel edged down. In addition, the most-traded casting aluminum futures rose 0.15%, the most-traded alumina futures fell 0.71%. The most-traded lithium carbonate futures fell 3.55%. The most-traded silicon metal futures fell 2.74%. The most-traded polysilicon futures fell 0.62%. Ferrous metals mostly fell. Iron ore was flat at 817.5 yuan/mt. Rebar fell 0.7%. Hot-rolled coil fell 0.57%. Stainless steel rose 0.16%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 2.51%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 1.28%. Overseas base metals, as of 11:41, LME metals rose across the board. LME copper gained 0.6%. LME aluminum rose 0.24%. LME zinc gained 0.4%. LME lead rose 0.3%. LME tin gained 1.29%. LME nickel rose 0.87%. Precious metals, as of 11:41, COMEX gold rose 0.48%, and COMEX silver gained 1.99%. Domestic precious metals: the most-traded SHFE gold contract fell 0.55%, and the most-traded SHFE silver contract rose 1.1%. In addition, as of the midday close, the most-traded platinum futures edged down, and the most-traded palladium futures fell 1.03%. As of the midday close, the most-traded Europe containerized freight index contract rose 3.17%, closing at 2,539.5 points. As of 11:41 on May 13, midday futures quotes for selected contracts: Spot and Fundamentals Copper: Looking ahead to tomorrow, copper prices continue to fluctuate at highs, downstream purchasing sentiment remains subdued, intraday buying and selling sentiment both pulled back, and spot discounts continued to widen. According to SMM, downstream orders continued to decline from the previous day... Macro Front [China-US Economic and Trade Consultations Begin in South Korea] At noon local time on May 13, the economic and trade teams of China and the US began China-US economic and trade consultations at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea. (Xinhua) Domestic: [PBOC Reverse Repo Operations Achieved Net Withdrawal of 25.5 Billion Yuan on the Day] The PBOC conducted 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today. As 26 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured today, a net withdrawal of 25.5 billion yuan was achieved on the day. US dollar: As of 11:41, the US dollar index rose 0.01%, at 98.31. The US CPI rose faster than expected in April, further intensifying concerns about the impact of inflation on the US economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday that, after seasonal adjustment, the overall CPI rose 0.6% MoM and 3.8% YoY. The monthly increase was in line with expectations, but the YoY increase was 0.1 percentage point higher than market expectations. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.4% and 2.8% respectively, indicating that although inflation remained well above the US Fed's 2% target, pressure mainly came from non-core areas, especially energy. Energy prices rose 3.8%, once again becoming one of the main drivers of rising inflation; food prices also rose 0.5%. For the full year, energy prices rose 17.9% and food prices rose 3.2%. Gasoline price index was up 28.4% YoY. Although energy, especially gasoline, was the main news focus, inflationary pressures also came from multiple other areas. Housing costs rose 0.6%, tariff-sensitive apparel prices rose 0.6%, airfares rose 2.8% with a YoY increase of 20.7%. Tariffs also appeared to have affected other areas, with household furnishings and related expenditures rising 0.7%. (Jin10 Data) According to the CME "Fed Watch": the probability of the US Fed maintaining rates unchanged through June was 97.1%, with a 2.9% probability of a cumulative 25 basis point interest rate cut. The probability of the US Fed maintaining rates unchanged through July was 96%, with a 3.9% probability of a cumulative 25 basis point interest rate cut. (Jin10 Data) A CITIC Securities research report stated that US April inflation continued to run hot, the spillover effects of the Middle East conflict persisted, and compensatory increases in rent inflation pushed up core readings. High inflation continued to erode the real purchasing power of US households, with low-income households facing stronger cost shocks, and real hourly wages YoY turned negative for the first time in three years. We believe the risk of a second wave of US inflation is relatively small, but high oil prices will constrain the room for inflation to pull back within the year. Under the base case scenario, the US Fed is still expected to cut interest rate by 25bps within the year. US Treasuries are currently more suited for trading opportunities. After the strong earnings season nears its conclusion, US equities should be watched for short-term risks of profit-taking. The US dollar index may remain in the doldrums below 100 rather than on a sustained downtrend. Other currencies: According to a latest estimate by the OECD, the Bank of Japan's benchmark interest rate is expected to reach 2% by the end of 2027. The report noted that, assuming inflation remains around 2%, the current interest rate is still close to the lower bound of the neutral rate range for the economy. The report also recommended that the Bank of Japan should continue to gradually raise interest rates to prevent the economy from overheating. The Bank of Japan previously estimated that Japan's nominal neutral interest rate was between 1.1% and 2.5%, but noted that there was significant uncertainty regarding the specific level. (Jin10 Data) On the macro front: Data to be released today include France's Q1 ILO unemployment rate, France's April CPI MoM final reading, eurozone Q1 GDP YoY revised reading, eurozone Q1 seasonally adjusted employment QoQ final reading, eurozone March industrial output MoM, US April PPI YoY, and US April PPI MoM. In addition, attention should be paid to: Chicago Fed President Goolsbee participating in a Q&A session hosted by a local chamber of commerce; 2028 FOMC voter and Boston Fed President Collins delivering a speech at the Boston Economic Club; Vice Premier He Lifeng leading a delegation to South Korea from May 12–13 for trade consultations with the US side; and US President Trump's state visit to China. Crude oil: As of 11:41, oil prices in both markets fell, with WTI down 1.03% and Brent down 1.06%. Iran presented its "entry ticket" for nuclear talks with the US, including unfreezing assets and recognizing sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated: "When negotiating with Iran, I don't consider the financial situation of the American people. I don't consider anyone." Meanwhile, the US Secretary of Defense said the Iran ceasefire agreement remained in effect. (Jin10 Data) American Petroleum Institute (API) data showed that US crude oil inventory fell for the fourth consecutive week last week, while gasoline inventory increased. US API crude oil inventory for the week ending May 8 was -2.188 million barrels, versus expectations of -1.654 million barrels and a prior reading of -8.141 million barrels. US API gasoline inventory for the week ending May 8 was 502,000 barrels, versus expectations of -2.549 million barrels and a prior reading of -6.107 million barrels. The EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook report indicated that if the Strait of Hormuz were closed through the end of June, crude oil prices would be $20/barrel higher than the current forecast, which assumes reopening by the end of May. (Jin10 Data) Spot Market Overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

[Macro Policy and Tug-of-War Between Sellers and Buyers: Aluminum Prices Move Sideways] The risk of supply disruptions to aluminum outside China has not yet subsided, and there remains a supply gap in ex-China aluminum, with the strong LME market transmitting to China and providing support for aluminum prices. However, the continuation of inventory buildup exceeding expectations in China will weigh on domestic aluminum prices. Meanwhile, tightened invoicing regulations may lead to structural tightness in spot cargo, and the weakening spot market further limits the upside room for domestic aluminum prices. Close attention should be paid to the potential turning point in China's social inventory, which could drive a rebound and rise in aluminum prices.

[SMM Daily HRC Trading] On May 12, the combined daily HRC trading volume of SMM's sample enterprises across four cities (Shanghai, Lecong, Tianjin, Ningbo) totaled 14,230 mt, down 1,100 mt DoD (-7.2%), down 12.16% YoY (solar calendar), and up 22.99% YoY (lunar calendar).

Gold and silver market update — May 11, 2026 Key Takeaways The gold/silver ratio measures how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold — as of May 11, 2026, it stands at 54.94, down from 62.05 just one week earlier Silver surged 7.1% to $86.10/oz today while gold barely moved at $4,730 — the catalyst is a US-China 90-day tariff truce that directly reprices silver’s industrial demand outlook (prices per nFusion Solutions, ~3:49 PM ET) According to the Silver Institute, silver has run a supply deficit for six consecutive years, with roughly 762 million troy ounces drawn from above-ground stockpiles since 2021 — the structural case for silver was in place long before this week The gold/silver ratio measures how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. When it falls, silver is outperforming. Right now it’s falling fast — from 62.05 a week ago to 54.94 today — after silver surged 7.1% to $86.10 on a US-China tariff truce. That kind of compression in under a week is rare. It tends to happen when a catalyst hits a metal that was already primed to move. Silver was primed: according to the Silver Institute, it has run a supply deficit for six consecutive years. What Is the Gold/Silver Ratio — and What Does 54.94 Actually Mean? The gold silver ratio doesn’t tell you whether to buy. It tells you relative value. A ratio of 55 means one ounce of gold currently buys 55 ounces of silver, while at 88 — where it stood in early 2024 — silver was cheap relative to gold. The lower the ratio, the more ground silver has reclaimed. In normal markets, the ratio has historically ranged from roughly 40 to 80. Extremes revert. It hit 125 in March 2020 — a pandemic-panic outlier — before compressing back to the mid-60s by August of that year. At 54.94 today, the ratio is near the low end of its historical range. That’s not a buy signal. It’s context: silver has already closed a lot of ground, which makes the next directional move meaningful. Why Is Silver Outperforming Gold Right Now? Two forces hit silver simultaneously this week. They reinforce each other. The first force is trade: the US and China announced a 90-day tariff truce over the weekend. US tariffs on Chinese goods dropped from 145% to 30%; Chinese tariffs on US goods fell from 125% to 10%. For gold, that news is roughly neutral. Silver, however, gets a direct demand signal. According to the Silver Institute, approximately 60% of silver’s annual consumption is industrial — solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and semiconductors. Most of that supply chain runs through China. When the tariffs came down, traders immediately repriced silver’s demand outlook. The 7% single-session move is that repricing happening in real time. Underlying that trade catalyst is a second, structural force. According to the Silver Institute, silver has run a supply deficit for six consecutive years — the world consumes more than it mines. The 2026 deficit is projected at 46.3 million ounces, up 15% from 2025. Since 2021, roughly 762 million troy ounces have been drawn from above-ground stockpiles. The trade truce lit the match. Six years of deficits was the fuel. Has a Ratio This Low Ever Predicted a Bigger Silver Move? It has — though the setup matters as much as the level. The clearest recent parallel is 2020, when the pandemic pushed the ratio to 125 in March — an extreme by any historical measure. As the shock faded, silver rallied roughly 45% over the following months while the ratio compressed back to the mid-60s by August. The starting point this time is far less extreme. But the direction and velocity are similar. The fair pushback: a 90-day truce is not a trade deal. If US-China negotiations break down before the deadline, silver’s industrial demand thesis softens and the ratio can re-expand quickly. That’s a real risk. But six years of supply deficits, documented by the Silver Institute, don’t evaporate on a failed negotiation. The structural bid existed before this week. All the truce did was remove a ceiling — it didn’t create the floor. What Does the Ratio Tell Long-Term Precious Metals Holders? Not what to do today — what to understand about where we are. Silver’s dual nature is the point. It’s part monetary metal, part industrial feedstock. When real yields fall, gold tends to lead. As industrial activity picks up, silver tends to overshoot. Right now both conditions are present, which is why silver is moving faster. A ratio of 54.94 means silver has been closing the gap with gold since early 2024, when it sat at 88. Fiat currency systems erode purchasing power gradually, through inflation and monetary expansion. Gold and silver both resist that erosion — but they don’t always move in lockstep. The ratio is the scoreboard. Right now, silver is catching up. That’s not alarming. That’s the system working the way it’s supposed to. Prices as of May 11, 2026, approximately 3:49 PM ET. Source： https://goldsilver.com/industry-news/goldsilver-news/why-the-gold-silver-ratio-is-falling-and-what-it-means/

[SMM Steel] India’s Shyam Metalics and Energy Limited (SMEL) reported a consolidated net profit of INR 3.19 billion (US$33.76 million) in Q4 FY2025-26, up 45.8% YoY, while revenue increased 26.3% YoY to INR 52.4 billion. The company also approved around US$286 million in capex to expand specialty steel and stainless steel capacities. In addition, SMEL plans to build an 800,000 mt/year specialty wire rod and bar mill in West Bengal by 2029 and expand stainless steel capacity in Odisha from 0.5 million mt/year to 0.6 million mt/year.

[SMM Precious Metals Market News] Indian Prime Minister Modi made a rare appeal to citizens to stop buying gold for at least one year. This move directly impacted domestic jewelry stocks, reflecting the deep-seated challenges facing India's foreign exchange reserves and trade deficit amid the Middle East war. On Sunday (May 10), Modi delivered a speech urging the public to avoid purchasing gold jewelry on any occasion, while also calling for reduced fuel consumption and fewer unnecessary trips outside China. He noted that India spent a significant amount of foreign exchange on gold imports and that citizens should eliminate non-essential consumption.