Price
News
- What Could Change if Middle East Aluminum Trade Reroutes—and Supply Becomes Substitutable
Strait of Hormuz disruptions and Iran tensions are driving up aluminum prices and premiums. Aluminium Bahrain and Qatalum have cut output, while feedstock is tight. Rerouting via Port of Sohar or Saudi ports raises costs and delays. Buyers are turning to China, India, Russia, Canada, and scrap to offset risk. Prolonged disruption could reduce Middle East market share and reprice it as higher-risk supply.
Mar 24, 2026 17:22 - [SMM Analysis] Titanium Dioxide Prices Rise Amid Cost Pressures and Geopolitical Tensions
As of March 24, titanium dioxide prices continued to rise, with the SMM index up 4.6% since early 2026. Two rounds of price hikes were issued in March amid low inventories. Strong exports and production cuts supported gains, though sustainability post-peak season remains uncertain, hinging on downstream acceptance.
Mar 24, 2026 14:35 - [NPI Daily Review] High-Grade NPI May Still Have Downside Room Under the Dual Pressure of End-User Demand and Steel Scrap
[SMM Daily Review: High-Grade NPI May Still Have Downside Room Under the Dual Pressure of End-Users and Steel Scrap] March 24 News: SMM's upstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 2.88, up 0.01 MoM, while the downstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 1.59, down 0.04 MoM.
Mar 24, 2026 11:37 - [SMM Analysis] Magnesium Exports Surge in Early 2026, Geopolitical Turmoil Threatens Q2 Outlook
Jan-Feb 2026 China magnesium exports reached 72.7kt, up 3.4kt YoY. Magnesium alloy led with +33.1% YoY, orders booked through April. Magnesium ingot fell 6.8% due to weak European demand, while powder grew 10.3%. However, US-Israel conflict disrupted Middle East aluminum plants, halting regional magnesium orders and pressuring Q2 outlook despite the strong start.
Mar 23, 2026 17:59 - [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 - Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Exports: Strong Growth at the Start of 2026, up 20.96% YoY in January-February
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China’s copper plate/sheet and strip exports were 13,233.73 mt in January 2026, up 30.59% MoM and up 27.53% YoY; in February, exports were 8,395.28 mt, down 36.56% MoM and up 11.87% YoY. In January-February, China’s cumulative copper plate/sheet and strip exports reached 21,629.01 mt, up 20.96% YoY cumulatively. In January-February 2026, China’s copper plate/sheet and strip exports rose 20.96% YoY, maintaining overall steady growth, with exports covering 120 countries and regions. In terms of export pattern, Vietnam and South Korea ranked first and second, with export volumes of 2,549 mt and 2,542 mt, up 13.6% YoY and 42.5% YoY, respectively. India maintained steady growth and ranked third with exports of 1,898 mt, with the YoY growth rate reaching 29.6%; Taiwan, China and Japan followed, with export volumes of 1,864 mt and 1,375 mt, respectively. Among them, Taiwan, China was up 5.4% YoY, while Japan was the only major destination market to post a YoY decline, down 16.7%. In terms of growth rates, emerging markets were particularly outstanding: Mexico’s YoY growth rate reached as high as 149.0%, with exports surging from 304 mt to 757 mt, making it the most prominent growth market. Malaysia, Thailand, and Germany also performed strongly, with YoY growth rates of 47.0%, 47.2%, and 44.6%, respectively, all achieving growth of more than 40%. The structure of China’s copper plate/sheet and strip export trade modes continued the characteristics seen in the previous period. Customs data showed that in January-February, processing trade with imported materials remained the core export mode, with exports of 14,335 mt, accounting for 66.3% and firmly maintaining its dominant position; Processing and Assembling exports were 3,655 mt, accounting for 16.9%; Ordinary Trade exports were 2,182 mt, accounting for 10.1%; and other trade modes totaled 1,458 mt, accounting for 6.7%. In terms of detailed product structure, in January-February 2026, China’s copper plate/sheet and strip exports were still dominated by copper strip, with exports of 14,151 mt, accounting for 65% and up 23.8% YoY, serving as the core driver boosting overall exports. Bronze strip performed strongly, with a YoY growth rate of 34.8%, the fastest among major categories; cupronickel strip, brass strip, and other categories also achieved YoY growth, with the overall structure remaining stable and growth momentum abundant. (HS code 74091110,74091190,74091900,74092100,74092900,74093100,74093900,74094000,74099000)
Mar 23, 2026 10:30
Announcements
Effective March 17, 2026, SMM will officially launch the following two new price points: "SMM Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate (CIF South Korea)" and "SMM Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (CIF South Kor
PriceMar 16, 2026 15:10To better serve industrial clients and stay closer to the market, SMM is adding 6 new scrap copper price assessments for Japan/US regions, officially launching on 16/1/2026. 1. New Price Points Copper Scrap - East Asia - Japan Millberry CIF China - Japan Millberry CIF China Taiwan - Japan Millberry CIF Korea Copper Scrap - America - United States Millberry CIF Japan - United States No.1 Copper Material CIF Japan - United States No.2 Copper Material CIF Japan 2. SMM Price Methodology General Principles Shanghai Metals Market (hereinafter referred to as "SMM") is a completely independent third-party service provider that does not participate in any actual transactions. Instead, SMM maintains close communication with buyers and sellers as a market observer or organizer and provides related services to the market. This document sets forth the standards for SMM's East Asia and US scrap copper price assessments. The purpose of establishing these standards is to create a transparent and verifiable SMM price formation mechanism. 3. Formation of SMM East Asia and US Scrap Copper Price Assessments 3.1 Significance of the Assessments In recent years, Japan and the United States have continued to play important roles in the global scrap copper trading system. Their export prices for berry copper and copper scrap hold strong reference value for major Asian consumer markets. Due to differences in origin quality structure, trade flows, and regional demand, actual transaction prices vary across different destinations. To more accurately reflect the true price levels of Japanese and US scrap copper in cross-regional circulation, reduce information asymmetry risks, and help upstream and downstream enterprises more reasonably evaluate procurement costs and formulate trading strategies, SMM plans to add price points including Japan Berry Copper CIF China, Japan Berry Copper CIF South Korea, Japan Berry Copper CIF Taiwan China, US Berry Copper CIF Japan, US No.1 Copper CIF Japan, and US No.2 Copper CIF Japan. These will be collected according to a unified methodology and publicly released to the market for industry reference. SMM price members will be able to access relevant historical price data simultaneously. 3.2 SMM East Asia and US Scrap Copper Price Assessment Methodology 3.2.1 Product Specifications and Standards Currently, scrap copper reference standards follow ISRI standards. If changes occur, SMM will revise accordingly based on actual circumstances. 3.2.2 Price Terms Prices are CIF indicative prices, expressed as a coefficient (%) unit. 3.2.3 Payment Terms Prices reflect payment conditions including TT or other conventional payment methods. 3.2.4 Quote Format and Timing Quoted prices are in range format, showing minimum and maximum prices. For example: Japan Millberry CIF China: 97.5%-98%. New price points will be assessed weekly. SMM will publish prices on the website front page at 3:30 PM on the last day of each working week. 3.2.5 Data Collection Method According to the data collection confirmation agreement, SMM price analysts will regularly collect price information from scrap copper industry contacts in Japan through telephone, WeChat, email, and other methods. This price information includes completed transaction prices and the most likely anticipated transaction prices expected by the enterprise. All instant messaging content and any face-to-face communication records will be archived telephone communication details will be recorded and entered into the database. SMM analysts must comply with the Compliance System when reporting to their supervisors any coerced or threatened communications from market participants, or any inducements attempting to influence assessments. After price publication, SMM will not make corrections or adjustments on that day. 3.2.6 Data Standardization Although SMM has standardized definitions for our prices, market transactions exist in various forms. Each transaction price is influenced by numerous factors, including order size, material brand, delivery time, payment terms, etc. SMM will comprehensively consider market quotes, bids, and transaction information and align them with our standards. We welcome more relevant enterprises along the industry chain to participate in and support SMM in better serving scrap copper industry-related enterprises. For any questions, please contact us. Shanghai Metal Market Copper Department - Aw Yong Yi Cheong Contact: +6011-25798397 Email add: awyong.yicheong@smm.cn
PriceJan 12, 2026 15:35SMM will launch two new price points for Indonesia 316L stainless steel, "Indonesia 316L/NO.1 Coil Mill Edge" and "Indonesia 316L/2B Coil Mill Edge," effective March 13, 2026.
PriceMar 11, 2026 18:14