The operating rates of galvanising producers this week were 61.21%, down 1.17 percentage points WoW. Raw material side, zinc prices pulled back to levels more acceptable to downstream this week. Downstream players stockpiled for the Labour Day holiday in a timely manner, and zinc ingot inventory at galvanising enterprises increased.

[Divergent Terminal Order Performance, Zinc Oxide Operating Rates Moved Sideways] This week, the decline in zinc oxide operating rates was mainly due to some small enterprises being in a state of production suspension due to poor orders, dragging down overall operating levels. Currently, although large zinc oxide factories maintained stable orders, industry profits were thin, with intense low-price competition across various products. By sector, tyre factories' orders were relatively stable, but feed-grade zinc oxide performed sluggishly...

[Some Enterprises Started Holiday Early, Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Operating Rates Edged Down] Zinc price center moved lower during the week. End-user hardware enterprises showed improved stockpiling enthusiasm ahead of the holiday, driving down finished product inventories at die-casting zinc alloy plants. Influenced by this, enterprises' willingness to restock at low prices strengthened, and raw material inventories increased accordingly. Demand side, recent garment zipper orders performed relatively well, electronics and auto parts orders also remained stable, but daily hardware demand remained mediocre......

[Zinc Price Center Pulled Back During the Week, Guangdong Premiums Rose Slightly] As of Thursday, mainstream #0 zinc in Guangdong was quoted at a discount of 55-45 yuan/mt against the market price, and the Shanghai-Guangdong price spread narrowed. Recently, invoice quotas in the market tightened, reducing the number of traders making shipments. Combined with the pullback in the zinc price center during the week, downstream dip-buying increased, and traders took the opportunity to raise premiums for shipments. Multiple factors drove Guangdong premiums to rise this week......

[Tianjin Zinc Ingot Spot Premiums Rose, Contract Rollover Pricing This Week]: Spot premiums in Tianjin rose this week, up 35 yuan/mt WoW. As of Friday, ordinary brands were quoted at a discount of 0-120 yuan/mt against the 2606 contract, premium brands were quoted at a premium of 10 yuan/mt against the 2606 contract, and Tianjin was quoted at a discount of 70 yuan/mt against Shanghai. The price spread between Shanghai and Tianjin widened, with contract rollover pricing this week.

[Some Galvanizing Plants Started Holiday Early, Operating Rates Weakened]: The operating rates of galvanising producers this week were 61.21%, down 1.17 percentage points WoW. Raw material side, zinc prices pulled back to levels more acceptable to downstream this week. Downstream players stockpiled ahead of the Labour Day holiday in a timely manner, and zinc ingot inventory at galvanising enterprises increased.

[SHFE/LME zinc price ratio rebounded to around 7.1 and oscillated]: This week, the SHFE/LME zinc price ratio rebounded to around 7.1 and oscillated, with the zinc ingot import window remaining closed. Outside China, increased uncertainty over the US-Iran conflict triggered inflation concerns, the US dollar index strengthened, and growing concerns over economic growth weighed on non-ferrous metals, which remained in the doldrums. LME inventory edged up, and LME zinc declined.

[Last Trading Week Before the Holiday: Spot Premiums Edged Up] Ningbo spot premiums edged up this week, with the weekly average price up 10 yuan/mt WoW. As of Thursday, Ningbo spot prices were quoted at a discount of 20 yuan/mt against the 2606 contract, with a Shanghai premium of 20 yuan/mt.

Ahead of the Labour Day holiday, SMM surveyed galvanising enterprises on their holiday arrangements. This survey covered 27 galvanising enterprises with a total capacity of 20.10 million mt. According to SMM, some enterprises will take 1-13 days off during the Labour Day holiday, while others will maintain normal production without any break, with an estimated total impact on zinc consumption of approximately 5,785 mt.

As the Labour Day holiday approaches, SMM communicated with galvanized sheet enterprises regarding their holiday arrangements. The survey covered 20 galvanized sheet enterprises with a combined capacity of 17.06 million mt/year, affecting zinc consumption of 243 mt