According to the latest customs data, China’s total exports of die-casting zinc alloy from January to February reached 689.33 mt, up slightly by 0.9 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis; imports, however, totaled 48.11 million mt, down 35.46 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis. Overall, China’s die-casting zinc alloy trade from January to February showed a pattern of slightly higher exports and a significant pullback in imports.

Recently, Joint Circular No. 00156 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Mines of the DRC / Cabinet of the Ministry of Mines / 2026 and Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance / 2026, concerning regulatory measures to standardize control over deviations in the detection of refined cobalt content in exported cobalt hydroxide under the quota system framework of the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets in the DRC, is translated as follows: The English translation of the above text is:

【SMM Analysis: Copper Wire and Cable Exports Surged YoY in December, Philippine Market Rose to Second Place】According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's exports of wires and cables totaled 277,400 mt in December 2025, up 1.38% MoM and 13.38% YoY. Among them, exports of copper wire and cable reached 140,500 mt in December, up 2.13% MoM and 30.8% YoY......

》Check SMM's aluminum product quotes, data, and market analysis SMM, June 16: Today, the most-traded SHFE aluminum 2507 contract opened at 20,450 yuan/mt, with a high of 20,330 yuan/mt, a low of 20,405 yuan/mt, and closed at 20,460 yuan/mt, down 0.29%. Trading volume was 98,000 lots, and open interest was 204,000 lots. SMM Commentary: On the macro front, as trade tensions ease, US consumer confidence improved for the first time in six months, and pessimism over soaring underlying inflation has also significantly eased. The rebound in China's May manufacturing PMI and improvement in export indicators provide demand support, with domestic economic resilience remaining. Fundamentals side, domestic aluminum smelters' operating capacity remained stable, with reduced casting ingot volumes prompting domestic aluminum ingot inventory to continue destocking. Cost side, alumina and auxiliary material prices are expected to weaken, weakening cost support for aluminum. Demand side faces dual pressures from domestic seasonal weakness and trade uncertainties, with aluminum processing enterprises' operating rates expected to come under pressure in the short term. Overall, the current low inventory and expectations of a higher proportion of liquid aluminum provide strong support for aluminum prices, but off-season pressure on the demand side limits upside room. Spot aluminum ingots in major consumption areas may soon face a situation of weak supply and demand, with aluminum prices expected to hold up well in the short term. Today, the most-traded alumina 2509 contract opened at 2,846 yuan/mt, with a high of 2,863 yuan/mt, a low of 2,822 yuan/mt, and closed at 2,852 yuan/mt, unchanged at 0.00%. Trading volume was 163,000 lots, and open interest was 299,000 lots. SMM Commentary: Last week, alumina's operating capacity rose 1.74 million mt/year MoM to 89.01 million mt/year. Spot alumina supply was relatively looser compared to the previous period, with aluminum smelters' total weekly alumina inventory rising 16,000 mt to 2.646 million mt. In the short term, alumina fundamentals are expected to maintain a relatively loose pattern, with alumina spot prices expected to pull back. Subsequent attention should be paid to changes in domestic alumina enterprises' capacity, as well as the supply of imported alumina. [The information provided is for reference only. This article does not constitute direct investment research and decision-making advice. Clients should make cautious decisions and not rely on this as a substitute for independent judgment. Any decisions made by clients are unrelated to SMM.]

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary: Continuous Destocking Strengthens Support, Aluminum Price Trend to Remain Strong] Macro side, as trade tensions ease, US consumer confidence has improved for the first time in six months, and pessimism over soaring underlying inflation has also significantly eased. The rebound in China's manufacturing PMI and improvement in export indicators in May have provided demand support, with the resilience of the domestic economy remaining. Fundamentals side, the operating capacity of domestic primary aluminum has remained stable, with a decrease in casting ingot volume prompting domestic aluminum ingot inventory to continue destocking. Cost side, prices of alumina and auxiliary materials are expected to weaken, reducing cost support for primary aluminum. Demand side, it is facing dual pressures from domestic seasonal weakness and trade uncertainties, with the operating rate of domestic aluminum processing enterprises expected to be under pressure in the short term. Overall, the current low inventory and the expectation of a higher proportion of liquid aluminum provide strong support for aluminum prices. However, the off-season pressure on the demand side limits upside room. Spot aluminum ingots in major consumption areas may soon face a situation of weak supply and demand, with aluminum prices expected to hold up well in the short term.

[SMM Morning Aluminum Meeting Summary: Macro Factors Favorable, Coupled with Destocking Support, Aluminum Price Center Moves Higher] Overall, on the macro side, the Sino-US consultation meeting is expected to ease the trade war, while the rebound in China's manufacturing PMI and improvement in export indicators in May provide demand support, indicating that the resilience of the domestic economy remains. Fundamentals. Currently, the low inventory and the expectation of a rising proportion of liquid aluminum provide strong support for aluminum prices. However, the pressure of the off-season on the demand side limits the upside room. Spot aluminum ingots in major consumption areas may soon face a situation of weak supply and demand, and aluminum prices are expected to remain volatile and range-bound in the short term.