[SMM Magnesium Weekly Inventory Brief] This week, social inventories decreased by 3.00% month-on-month, showing a regional divergence. In major production areas, inventory reduction was more pronounced due to the progress of long-term contract deliveries and production cuts by some manufacturers. Meanwhile, Tianjin Port experienced slight inventory accumulation as low-priced resources stimulated traders' stockpiling. Overall, the inventory reduction in production areas provided some bottom support for magnesium prices, but the port inventory accumulation reflects persistent export difficulties, with short-term supply-demand imbalances still awaiting resolution.

[Producer Daily Output Increase Covers Maintenance Reduction; Transaction Recovery Fails to Halt Factory Inventory Buildup] During June 12-18, magnesium weekly output rose WoW, with maintenance at some enterprises not offsetting the supply increase. Factory inventory edged up slightly, while social inventory diverged, as producing regions destocked and port inventories built up. Weak exports put short-term supply-demand under pressure.

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Downstream Purchasing Weakness and Insufficient Export Orders, Magnesium Ingot Market Remained Weak] This week, the overall market for dolomite and magnesium-related products was stable, presenting a pattern of strong supply and weak demand. Quarries in Wutai, Shanxi, halted production due to environmental protection requirements, leading to localized tightness in high-grade dolomite, but nationwide inventory remained ample. Downstream users purchased as needed, and prices stayed stable. In major production areas, magnesium ingot supply was plentiful, and downstream only made just-in-time procurement. The market was in a stalemate, with sluggish export orders and strong wait-and-see sentiment. Magnesium powder followed the raw material trend; the industry was in the off-season, and both domestic and export transactions were mediocre. Magnesium alloy production was steady, but enterprises experienced divergent order situations. Inventories at some producers rose, and the increase in low-priced supply widened price spreads. The tug-of-war between sellers and buyers intensified across the entire industry chain. In the short term, price fluctuations for each product will be limited, and the market will continue to run steadily.

[SMM Magnesium Survey: Overseas Brine Magnesium Smelting Projects Accelerate, Bringing Incremental Local Magnesium Supply to Europe and the US] The Canada Greenland Malm bjerg project is advancing preliminary works, conducting tests on magnesium extraction from brine and rare earth recovery. The European Innovation Council's due diligence on a €50 million investment will be completed by the end of June, which can supplement the EU's local magnesium supply. In the US, Magrathea, in collaboration with TETRA, has achieved commercial production of high-purity magnesium through brine-based smelting, marking the only new magnesium smelting capacity built in the US in recent years. Phase one has commenced, filling the gap in domestic high-end magnesium raw material supply.

Since the start of June, the tug-of-war between sellers and buyers over magnesium prices has been intensifying. The EXW price of 99.90% magnesium ingot (Fugu, Shenmu) moved sideways around 16,300–16,400 yuan/mt, with the trading range narrowing significantly. The magnesium market was mired in a supply-demand stalemate, as end-users' acceptance of high magnesium prices declined markedly, while primary magnesium smelters held their bottom line supported by costs.

[SMM Magnesium Express]Recently, due to a combination of factors including rising fuel costs driven by geopolitical conflicts and reduced turnover efficiency caused by congestion in major European ports, shipping companies have tightened capacity and raised freight rates, leading to a significant surge in international shipping costs. According to SMM research, since late June, the freight cost for magnesium ingots shipped from Tianjin Port to Rotterdam, Netherlands, has reached approximately $130 per ton, up $20 from the beginning of the month, while the average freight cost for the India route has reached $110 per ton, up $10. SMM will continue to closely monitor freight trends and make timely adjustments.