[SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment: Prices Pull Back as Aluminum Scrap Holders Are Reluctant to Sell; Overall Market Trading Remains Muted] Yesterday, the SMM ADC12 price rose by 500 yuan/mt, with the center of market quotations moving up markedly. Most producers’ price adjustments were concentrated in the 500–600 yuan/mt range. Recently, raw material prices have continued to strengthen, and the cost side has risen quickly, providing a clear lift to enterprise quotations. However, downstream demand has been relatively steady. Most enterprises reported that orders and inquiry activity were generally average, and downstream purchasing remains mainly restocking on an as-needed basis. Supported by cost-driven momentum and market expectations, enterprises have shown a clear willingness to raise prices. In the short term, against the backdrop of cost support and mild supply release, ADC12 prices are expected to hold up well. The medium-term trend will still depend on the recovery of end-use consumption. If die-casting industry orders increase significantly, the price center is expected to move up further; if demand recovery falls short of expectations, coupled with a continued rise in operating rates on the supply side, prices will shift from elevated levels into rangebound consolidation.

[Zinc Fundamental Trading Logic Amid the Middle East Conflict: Risk Identification and Opportunity Capture] Global geopolitical conflicts have continued unabated, and news of the recent Middle East conflict has emerged frequently. What impact will this have on the zinc industry? This article provides an analysis from both fundamental and market perspectives:

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Minutes: Geopolitical Risks in the Middle East Cool Significantly; Aluminum Prices to Fluctuate at Highs in the Short Term] Overall, from a macro perspective, easing geopolitical risks and the continued buildup of domestic social inventory have created bearish pressure on aluminum prices. However, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains unclear; if the conflict persists, expectations for a tightening of global aluminum supply are strong, and aluminum prices still have solid upward momentum. In the short term, aluminum prices are still expected to hold up well.

SMM March 10: In early trading, SHFE aluminum 2603 moved lower, with the price center dropping sharply from the previous trading day. Today, purchasing sentiment was not significantly driven by aluminum prices; buying strength remained weak, and buying interest was low. Today, mainstream transaction prices were concentrated at discounts of 10 yuan/mt to premiums of 20 yuan/mt. Today, the east China market shipments sentiment index was 3.19, down 0.03 MoM; the buying sentiment index was 2.53, up 0.04 MoM. Today, SHFE aluminum fell sharply in early trading, and purchasing sentiment was not significantly driven by aluminum prices; buying strength remained weak, and buying interest was low. Today, mainstream transaction prices were concentrated at discounts of 130 yuan/mt to discounts of 120 yuan/mt against the SHFE aluminum 03 contract. Today, the central China market shipments sentiment index was 2.58, down 0.12 MoM; the buying sentiment index was 2.42, up 0.02 MoM. Inventory side, today aluminum ingot inventory in major consumption areas increased 13,000 mt MoM, with the inventory buildup mainly coming from Gongyi and Guangdong. In the short term, after the Chinese New Year, aluminum ingots continued seasonal inventory buildup; affected by bullish sentiment, premiums were expected to remain on a narrowing trend.

On March 9, the average SMM battery-grade nickel sulphate price was flat WoW from last Friday.

DCE iron ore futures fell before rising, stabilizing in the afternoon session. The most-traded contract I2605 finally closed at 784 yuan/mt, up 0.26% from the previous session. Meanwhile, spot prices fell 2–5 yuan from the previous trading day. Traders showed average enthusiasm in quoting prices, and steel mills’ purchases were mainly for rigid demand. Overall, the spot market saw scant transactions. According to SMM survey tracking, blast furnace maintenance intensity continued to increase this week, with the impacted volume up 102,100 mt WoW to 1.9892 million mt. Iron ore demand was currently at a relatively low level. As blast furnaces that underwent earlier maintenance resumed production in a concentrated manner, hot metal production was expected to rebound next week, and iron ore demand was likely to improve. On the macro front, the war in the Middle East remained in a stalemate. Surging crude oil prices pushed up the ocean freight rate and the cost of imported iron ore, providing cost support for ore prices. However, due to limited actual transactions, upward momentum showed signs of weakening. Therefore, in the short term, ore prices might mainly see sideways movement within a range.

[SMM Cast Aluminum Alloy Morning Comment: Price Pullback Spurs Aluminum Scrap Hoarding; Overall Market Trading Remains Subdued] Overall ADC12 market quotations moved lower, with most cuts in the 200-400 yuan/mt range. The adjustments were mainly driven by a downward shift in the cost center and subdued downstream purchasing. However, against the backdrop of a price pullback, aluminum scrap traders’ reluctance to sell has become pronounced, leaving limited room for raw material costs to fall further. Enterprises have been generally cautious in making price adjustments, and most producers remain bullish on the outlook. In the short term, with cost support and a mild release of supply, ADC12 prices are expected to hold up well. The medium-term trend will still depend on the recovery in end-use consumption. If die-casting industry orders increase significantly, the price center is expected to move further higher; if demand recovery falls short of expectations, coupled with a continued rise in operating rates on the supply side, prices will shift from elevated levels into rangebound consolidation.

[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review] Easing Geopolitical Sentiment Supports Base Metals; SS Futures Hold Up Well and Fluctuate Upward SMM News on March 10: SS futures showed a hold-up-well, rangebound pattern. US President Trump said regarding the situation related to Iran that “the war is about to end,” which supported base metals futures and led to signs of strengthening. SS futures also rose in tandem, closing at 14,265 yuan/mt by the midday close. In the spot market, driven by stronger SS futures, traders turned more optimistic and confidence improved, with fewer low-priced supplies in the market. Downstream end-users still mainly made just-in-time procurement, and overall transactions remained steady. The most-traded SS futures contract fluctuated downward. At 10:15 a.m., SS2604 was quoted at 14,310 yuan/mt, up 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. In Wuxi, spot premiums for 304/2B were in the 210-410 yuan/mt range. In the spot market, Wuxi cold-rolled 201/2B coils were generally stable; for cold-rolled trimmed-edge 304/2B coils, the average price in Wuxi was stable and the average price in Foshan was stable; cold-rolled 316L/2B coils in Wuxi were stable; hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coils in Wuxi were quoted stable; and cold-rolled 430/2B coils in both Wuxi and Foshan were stable. As the traditional peak consumption season of “Golden March and Silver April” begins, the stainless steel market is entering a window for demand recovery. Downstream demand is gradually returning as market participants resume work and resume production after the Chinese New Year holiday, but although transactions improved compared with the earlier period, the bustling peak-season momentum has yet to emerge. End-user procurement remains mainly just-in-time, and stockpiling willingness is relatively low. On the futures side, driven by risk aversion triggered by geopolitical conflicts...

[SMM Chrome Daily Commentary: Quotes Rose Steadily, Strong Support at the Bottom] News on March 10, 2026: Both ferrochrome and chrome ore quotes rose slightly……

[SMM Daily Review: The High-Grade NPI Market Was Briefly Under Pressure, While the Cost-Support Logic Remained Unchanged] News on March 10: SMM’s upstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 2.9, up 0.02 MoM, while the downstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 1.4, up 0.03 MoM.