[SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment: Bears Add Positions, Aluminum Alloy Night Session Plunges, UAE Aluminum Scrap Export Ban Takes Effect] Overnight, aluminum alloy futures weakened sharply. The night session opened at 22,850 yuan/mt, closed at 22,720 yuan/mt, down 390 yuan/mt, or 1.69%.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade has issued Ministerial Decision No.105 of 2026, introducing a four-month temporary export ban on certain industrial wastes and scrap metals, including aluminum scrap under several HS 7602 codes. The measure takes effect seven working days after issuance, while shipments under previously signed international contracts may apply for exemptions. Aluminum scrap was previously subject to an export fee of AED 100/t (US$27/t). The move reflects the UAE's efforts to retain raw materials domestically and promote local value-added processing, with potential implications for Asian scrap markets, particularly India and South Korea.

According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade's Ministerial Decision No. 105 of 2026 and the latest feedback from traders, the UAE officially published and implemented a temporary export ban on certain industrial wastes and metal scraps on 3 June 2026, for a duration of 4 months, precisely targeting iron, aluminum, and copper scrap. SMM learned that the core objective of this policy is to retain raw materials domestically; notably, copper ingots are explicitly exempted to encourage high-value-added exports. Given that the UAE had previously imposed a fixed export duty of USD 109/MT on copper scrap, which had already severely squeezed direct export arbitrage margins, this ban will have a limited marginal impact on the copper scrap market. Instead, the primary impact will be concentrated on the copper alloys, such as Honey, Ocean, and Gun metal. From the perspective of global trade flows, the main Asian consumption destinations for UAE scrap are India and South Korea. Due to China's stringent import standards for recycled materials and the historically negligible volume of direct scrap shipments from the UAE to China, this new regulation is expected to have virtually no substantial impact on the Chinese domestic scrap metal supply.

Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) is thrilled to announce that we have formally kicked off our full-scale strategic expansion across India, marking another landmark cross-border initiative in South Asia following our established presence in key global commodity hubs spanning Europe and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Concurrent with this market push, SMM has appointed Mr. Amit Hablani as Head of India Business, entrusting him with SMM’s commercial strategy and localized business development across India and the broader South Asian subcontinent. India ranks among the world’s fastest-growing consumers of metals and bulk commodities. Driven by its rapid domestic industrialization, evolving local spot price benchmarks, and a booming green circular economy centered on scrap metal, the nation has emerged as a strategically pivotal location within the global commodity value chain. By deepening our South Asian operational footprint, SMM aims to integrate its years of proprietary digital technology and rigorous price assessment methodology with on-the-ground market realities in the region. This integration will address void in local spot pricing frameworks and industrial data coverage. Mr. Amit Hablani has over 14 years of specialized expertise spanning commercialization of commodity data, cross-border market penetration, and B2B client ecosystem development. Possessing deep knowledge of South Asia’s metals and commodity supply chains, he will assist SMM's local commercial rollout and rapid establishment of a fully localized service infrastructure. Logan Lu, SMM CEO, commented: “The full-scale expansion into India represents a vital piece of SMM’s Globalization 2.0 strategy. We recognize not only India’s explosive growth potential but also its rising strategic weight within the international commodity pricing landscape. Moving forward, Mr. Amit Hablani will lead the India team to maintain close alignment with our Shanghai headquarters and all global branches. Leveraging SMM’s decades-long industry expertise and worldwide network, we will deliver comprehensive commodity solutions to global clients with enhanced regional granularity and diversified value propositions.” SMM will continue to broaden and refine our global service network in the long run and strive to empower partners worldwide and collectively build a more transparent, efficient new ecosystem for the international commodity sector.

As resource security and decarbonization become increasingly important, major economies are strengthening efforts to retain aluminum scrap. From the EU's review of export controls and the U.S. strategic asset proposal to Japan's circular economy initiatives and policies in the UAE and South Africa, these developments could reshape global scrap flows and affect secondary aluminum markets.

According to the OECD's latest Steel Outlook 2026, global excess steel production capacity is projected to reach 745 million tonnes by 2028 — surpassing total OECD steel output by 319 million tonnes. Planned new capacity additions of 139 million tonnes between 2025 and 2028 represent a 5.7% increase, while demand is forecast to grow at only around 0.9% annually, widening the supply-demand gap. Most new capacity is being built outside OECD countries, frequently with government support — in 2024, Chinese steelmakers received subsidies equivalent to 15 times more relative to total assets than producers elsewhere. OECD member capacity contracted overall, with the UK seeing the sharpest decline at 39.7% between 2021 and 2025, followed by Japan at 7.2%. Export restrictions on scrap metal across 42 countries and rising energy costs linked to Middle East tensions are further weighing on investment and the low-carbon transition.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the afternoon of May 15, the delegation visited KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. has grown steadily since its founding with the support of numerous partners, always adhering to the core objectives of responding to the needs of the times and driving industrial development. As its business scale has expanded, the company has gradually established a solid industrial foundation in the field of metal resource recycling and built a stable supply system covering both China and ex-China markets. Headquartered in Izumi-Otsu City, Osaka Prefecture, with a sales office in Izumi City, the company maintains high-standard professional operations throughout the entire process—from the procurement and processing of metal scrap to sales and export—and is committed to contributing to industrial development in Japan and the broader Asian region. The company is well aware that sustained corporate growth depends on trustworthy quality and efficient management. To this end, the company has fully implemented and obtained ISO 9001 certification, the quality management system established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Through this system, the company has established rigorous operational procedures and quality control mechanisms, ensuring that product quality remains consistently stable and reliable, and guaranteeing the continuous supply of high-grade metal raw materials that meet the requirements of steelmaking enterprises and other partners. The spirit of continuous improvement advocated by ISO 9001 has also become part of the company culture, with all employees constantly pursuing greater efficiency and superior quality in their daily work, with enhancing client satisfaction as their shared goal. In terms of business philosophy, the company adheres to a "people-oriented" approach, believing that talent is the most fundamental resource of an enterprise. The company encourages employees to continuously enhance their capabilities, closely integrating personal growth, corporate interests, and social value, earning the trust of partners through honest management and steady development. The company actively promotes open cooperation, establishing long-term and stable business relationships with various industries in and outside China, while continuously exploring new market opportunities to build a broader and more solid international network for the future. Looking ahead, KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. will continue to leverage its professional expertise, international vision, and rigorous quality management system to continuously strengthen its comprehensive competitiveness, contributing to socioeconomic development, resource recycling, and broader international cooperation. This visit was an important practice of SMM in building an international recycled metals industry exchange platform, creating a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face exchanges, attendees gained in-depth understanding of KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD.'s technological advantages, operational management experience, and market positioning strategies in the recycled metals sector. They gained particularly valuable insights in areas such as refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for Chinese enterprises to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the morning of May 15, the delegation visited Toyo Trading Co., Ltd. and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile Toyo Trading , officially established in 2009, has consistently upheld "resource recycling to promote sustainable development" as its core mission. Steadily cultivating its presence in Japan's metal recycling and trading sector over sixteen years, the Group has built a large-scale operation covering the entire industry chain. Today, it has developed an integrated full-chain service capability encompassing "collection — processing — sales — export," with its business footprint spanning all of Japan. The Group now owns over 20 specialized subsidiaries, each focusing on specific segments such as copper scrap and aluminum scrap recycling, refining, processing, and international trade. Meanwhile, the Group has assembled 300 professionals with extensive industry experience, ensuring efficient operations and consistent service quality across all aspects from supply chain management to international trade negotiations. Annual output includes copper (25,000 mt), aluminum (25,000 mt), iron (100,000 mt), and others (250,000 mt). Annual sales revenue reached 70 billion yen, making it one of the largest and most reputable enterprise groups in Japan's metal recycling industry. Toyo Trading has established a quality management system in strict accordance with international standards and has successfully obtained ISO9001 international quality management system certification. This signifies that the Group has reached internationally advanced levels in quality management, process control, and client service, providing clients with solid quality assurance. Looking ahead, Toyo Trading will continue to build on its core business of metal recycling and trading, further deepening its industry chain layout: on one hand, continuously optimizing its service network and processing technologies to enhance resource recovery efficiency and raw material quality; on the other hand, actively exploring green and low-carbon development pathways to drive the industry's transformation toward a greener, more efficient, and sustainable direction, enabling the infinite circulation of finite resources. Toyo Group will continue to uphold the philosophy of integrity-based management, deepen collaboration with clients and partners, and sincerely welcome business partners from around the world to discuss cooperation, pursue mutual development, achieve win-win collaboration, protect the planet, and co-create a sustainable future. This visit was an important practice of SMM's efforts to build an international recycled metals industry exchange platform, serving as a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face exchanges, attendees gained in-depth understanding of Toyo Trading's technological advantages, operational management experience, and market layout strategies in the recycled metals sector. They particularly benefited from insights into refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for Chinese enterprises to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the afternoon of May 14, the delegation visited Uchida Corporation and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile Uchida Corporation was established in 2013 and is headquartered in Itami City. The company specializes in the recycling and processing of non-ferrous metals and special metals such as copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. It owns two recycling plants and one copper wire nodules processing plant, with a monthly processing capacity exceeding 1 kt. The company upholds the development philosophy of efficiency and environmental protection, deeply cultivating the field of secondary resource recycling and utilization, and is committed to creating long-term sustainable value for its clients. The enterprise adheres to the principle of "an honest work attitude and a spirit of continuous challenge," linking resources to industry and connecting the future with expertise. It continues to set new benchmarks for industry development, aspiring to build a high-quality enterprise that dares to take on challenges, grows steadily, and develops for the long term. This visit was an important practice of SMM's efforts to build an international exchange platform for the secondary metals industry, creating a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face exchanges, the attendees gained in-depth understanding of Uchida Corporation's technological advantages, operational management experience, and market positioning strategies in the secondary metals sector. They gained particularly valuable insights in areas such as refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for enterprises in China to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the morning of May 14, the delegation visited Kankyu Boeki Co., Ltd. and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile Kankyu Boeki Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive resource recycling group whose core business encompasses the dismantling, shredding, and smelting/refining of secondary non-ferrous metal resources, with integrated services in trading, customs clearance, and logistics. The group has long been deeply engaged in the field of industrial and electronic metals recycling, establishing an integrated industry chain system spanning collection, dismantling and processing, smelting, and product output, providing clients with stable, efficient, and compliant secondary metals solutions. The group's main businesses include dismantling and fine processing of secondary non-ferrous metal resources, copper smelting and blister copper ingot production, shredding, dismantling, and smelting of electronic metal materials, and large-scale processing of industrial miscellaneous items, motors, wires, and mechanical metals. The group has annual processing capacities of industrial miscellaneous items (150,000 mt), motors (50,000 mt), air conditioning radiators (30,000 mt), wires (30,000 mt), aluminum and mixed aluminum (50,000 mt), shredded copper and copper wire nodules (50,000 mt), blister copper ingots (100,000 mt), shredded iron (30,000 mt), and H2 iron (80,000 mt). This visit was an important initiative by SMM to build an international exchange platform for the recycled metals industry, serving as a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face communication, the attendees gained in-depth insights into Kankyu Boeki Co., Ltd.'s technological advantages, operational management experience, and market positioning strategies in the recycled metals sector. The visit was particularly fruitful in areas such as refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for enterprises in China to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.