SMM assessment shows that China’s antimony ingot output (including antimony ingots, converted crude antimony, cathode antimony, etc.) in July 2026 rose by approximately 30% month-on-month compared with the previous month, posting a sharp increase.

Southeast Asia's aluminum scrap market rebounded this week, with key grades in Malaysia and Thailand rising, while ADC12 prices softened amid weak downstream demand. Despite lower LME aluminum prices, tight scrap supply kept offers firm. Sentiment improved slightly, but buying remained need-based. Attention also shifted to US Section 232 developments and their potential impact on trade flows and regional supply.

The overseas secondary aluminum market shifted from supply-driven gains to demand-led corrections in H1 as geopolitical risks eased and downstream demand remained weak. At the same time, the UAE, the EU and the US introduced measures to strengthen domestic scrap resource management, reinforcing aluminum scrap's strategic role in global supply chains. In H2, SMM expects demand recovery to be the key driver of prices, while policy will continue to shape trade flows and premium scrap availability.

South Africa's global chrome ore exports eased marginally in May 2026 to 2.43 million mt, down 1.82% month-on-month from 2.47 million mt in April, but still 43.08% higher than a year earlier. High-carbon ferrochrome (HC FeCr) exports moved in the opposite direction, rising 5.66% MoM to 123,795 mt, though volumes remained 48.76% below May 2025.

According to SMM assessments, China's antimony ingot production (including antimony ingots, crude antimony equivalent, and cathode antimony) experienced a sharp month-on-month decline in February 2026, showing a rapid downward trend. Many market participants believe that this is due to two main factors: on one hand, the persistent cold weather in the north has led to freezing in northern mines, resulting in tight supplies of mineral raw materials. On the other hand, the suspension or reduction of production by many manufacturers during the Spring Festival holiday in February also contributed to the decline. Looking at antimony ingot production trends, domestic antimony output had maintained a rebound since last September, making the sudden sharp decline in February particularly noticeable. Market participants suggest that while this decline is a normal and expected phenomenon, the rapidly decreasing production may impact market supply in the short term. They predict that in March 2026, national antimony ingot production may not see significant changes compared to February, with a greater likelihood of maintaining stability or experiencing a slight increase.

SMM's monthly metal production data is released at the end of each month, aiming to uncover the true fundamentals and help industry chain participants and investors gain a clearer grasp of the future direction of the non-ferrous metal market.