[SMM Aluminum Price Weekly Review: Middle East Geopolitical Tensions Remain Uncertain, Aluminum Prices Expected to Fluctuate at Highs in the Short Term]

[Silicon Metal Prices Remained Stagnant at Low Levels]: The silicon metal market remained stagnant with a weak tone this week, with price centers for some specifications shifting lower. As of April 9, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 8,900-9,100 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt WoW; #441 silicon was at 9,200-9,300 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt WoW; #421 silicon was at 9,300-9,500 yuan/mt, down 100 yuan/mt WoW; and #3303 silicon was at 10,100-10,300 yuan/mt, flat WoW. In the futures market, the most-traded silicon metal contract moved sideways around 8,200-8,400 yuan/mt over the past week, as the silicon metal market was under pressure with narrow price fluctuations.

[SMM Lead Market News] This week (April 5, 2026 - April 9, 2026), the average operating rate of primary lead smelters in the three provinces was 61.48%, down 0.57 percentage points WoW.

[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief] News: Individual coke enterprises in Inner Mongolia initiated a coke price increase of 50-55 yuan/mt, effective from 00:00 on April 13. In terms of supply, most coke enterprises currently had relatively small losses, with stable operating rates and good shipments, and in-plant coke inventory continued to decline. Demand side, steel mills maintained high and stable operating rates, hot metal production fluctuated at highs, daily coke consumption increased, and affected by maintenance on some railway sections, coke arrivals were disrupted, leading to a slight decline in coke inventory at some steel mills. In summary, some coke enterprises still held bullish expectations for the market outlook, and the coke market is expected to be generally stable with slight rise in the short term.

[Magnesium Alloy Demand Accelerating Release, Lightweight Applications Entering Full-Scale Boom] In 2026, the magnesium alloy market demand entered a high-speed growth cycle. Applications in NEV lightweighting, high-end equipment, and high performance transportation equipment continued to expand. The industry ushered in a golden window period of improved supply-demand structure and accelerated technology commercialization, with coordinated deployment across the upstream and downstream of the industry chain picking up pace.

[SMM Spot Titanium Brief: Sulphuric Acid Price Increases Drive Up Costs, Titanium Dioxide Market Prices Continue to Rise] On April 9, driven by the continued rise in sulphuric acid prices and growing cost pressure, inquiry prices in the titanium dioxide market increased. Anatase and rutile titanium dioxide prices are expected to rise slightly, while chloride-process titanium dioxide prices are expected to remain stable.