Since late April, aluminum billet processing fees in China's three major consumption regions staged a strong rebound, with South China taking the lead. Processing fees of φ120 aluminum billets (Guangdong) hit a Q2 low of -40 yuan/mt on April 16, then surged rapidly, approaching the 500 yuan/mt mark by month-end in May, and reaching a new yearly high of 490 yuan/mt on May 28. SMM believed there were three main reasons...

In May 2026, the European Union adopted a series of restrictive measures against China in the new energy sector, several of which are directly related to the photovoltaic and energy storage supply chains. In this situation, how will the European's solar market goes...?

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Weak Supply-Demand Pattern, Magnesium Market Fluctuated Downward Overall This Week] China's magnesium industry chain was overall in the doldrums this week. Upstream, the dolomite market remained stable. In Shanxi production areas, some capacity was shut down due to environmental protection-related controls, tightening quality supply sources. However, supply from other regions quickly filled the gap, keeping overall supply sufficient. Combined with ample raw material reserves at primary magnesium enterprises, only just-in-time procurement was maintained, and dolomite prices remained stable. In major production areas, primary magnesium operations were stable, spot supply was sufficient, producers were active in shipments, and industry competition intensified. Some enterprises offered price concessions to facilitate transactions, driving magnesium ingot prices into a sustained gradual decline. Downstream, end-user wait-and-see sentiment was strong. Influenced by the mentality to rush to buy amid continuous price rise and hold back amid price downturn, most made just-in-time procurement only, with large orders scarce. The market exhibited a pattern of strong supply and weak demand. Export quotations were adjusted downward in tandem, and ex-China trading was sluggish. In deep processing, magnesium powder operations pulled back slightly, with expectations of tightening supply going forward. However, demand in and outside China lacked sufficient support, and the market moved sideways. Magnesium alloy enterprises maintained stable operations, with some inventory accumulating slightly. Industry orders diverged, and price spreads among quotations continued to widen. Downstream demand was mixed, with new energy vehicle demand seeing steady release while two-wheeler demand remained persistently weak. Overall demand support was soft, supply was relatively ample, and prices were in the doldrums in tandem with magnesium ingot.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,477/mt, dipped to a low of $13,436/mt in early trading, then the price center gradually shifted upward to reach $13,625/mt, and finally moved sideways at high levels to close at $13,590/mt, up 0.34%, with trading volume at 24,000 lots and open interest at 283,000 lots, an increase of 2,099 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 104,480 yuan/mt, touched a high of 104,840 yuan/mt in early trading, then the price center shifted slightly lower to a low of 104,440 yuan/mt, and finally moved sideways to close at 104,590 yuan/mt, up 0.28%, with trading volume at 30,000 lots and open interest at 154,000 lots, a decrease of 3,110 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears reducing positions.

[SMM Analysis] Reassessing the Logic Behind Sulfur's "Surge" Driving Nickel Prices Higher

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Post-Holiday Magnesium Market Consolidates Weakly, Supply-Demand Dual Weakness Puts Prices Under Pressure] The magnesium industry chain was overall in the doldrums this week. Dolomite prices remained stable, with delivery-to-factory prices consolidating at highs. Magnesium ingot quotes fell due to weak post-holiday restocking and an increase in low-priced supplies, with FOB prices also edging down in tandem. The magnesium powder and magnesium alloy markets held steady with firm processing fees, but downstream buyers remained on the sidelines, presenting an overall pattern of strong supply and weak demand. In the short term, magnesium prices may continue to move sideways.