Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. Core Viewpoints - In August, aluminum prices showed a high - level oscillating trend. The spread of SHFE aluminum continued to narrow, and the spot market showed obvious regional differentiation, with the East China region relatively stronger. The LME market's Cash/3M shifted to a premium structure. - Fundamentally, the social inventory of domestic electrolytic aluminum continued to accumulate, and the operating capacity of electrolytic aluminum increased slightly. Demand showed structural differentiation, the proportion of molten aluminum rebounded, and the production scheduling data of home appliances indicated a weak expectation for "Golden September". The production schedules of air - conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines all decreased year - on - year. - Overall, aluminum prices oscillated between macro expectations and fundamental realities. The enhanced overseas interest - rate cut expectation provided support, but the continued domestic inventory accumulation and the weak improvement in terminal demand restricted the upward price space. This month, focus on the fulfillment of peak - season demand and the inventory trend. If the inventory shows an inflection point, aluminum prices are expected to rise further. The operating range of the main SHFE aluminum contract this month is expected to be 20,300 - 21,400 yuan/ton; the operating range of LME 3M aluminum is expected to be 2,540 - 2,720 US dollars/ton [12]. Summary by Directory 1. Monthly Assessment and Strategy Recommendation - Supply: As of the end of August, the domestic operating capacity of electrolytic aluminum was about 44 million tons, with a slight increase due to the commissioning of some electrolytic aluminum replacement projects. The output was 3.733 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 1.22%. In September, the operating capacity of electrolytic aluminum is expected to continue to increase slightly [12]. - Inventory & Spot: At the end of August, the domestic social inventory of aluminum ingots was 610,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 85,000 tons, and the inventory accumulation continued. The bonded - area inventory was 99,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 7.4%. The domestic aluminum rod inventory was 143,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 14,000 tons. The LME inventory was 481,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 3.9%. The spot basis of aluminum ingots both at home and abroad strengthened during the month [12]. - Imports and Exports: In July 2025, China exported 542,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a month - on - month increase of over 50,000 tons. The cumulative export volume from January to July was 3.462 million tons, a year - on - year decrease of 8%. In August, the loss of domestic aluminum spot imports widened month - on - month [12]. - Demand: According to Aizhe Consulting's research, the weekly downstream operating rate rebounded at the end of August, but the operating rates of each sector varied. Most processing plants increased production, and there were signs of improvement in the demand side. With the arrival of the traditional peak season in September, consumption may continue to improve [12]. 2. Futures and Spot Market - Futures: In August, SHFE aluminum oscillated at a high level, rising 250 yuan/ton during the month with the center of gravity shifting upward, and LME aluminum rose 2.11% [22]. - Term Spread: In August, the spread of SHFE aluminum continued to decline [27]. - Spot Basis: In August, the aluminum ingot spot in the East China region changed from a short - term premium to a discount, and the discounts in the South China and Central China regions widened [30]. - Regional Premium and Discount Spread: In August, the East China spot strengthened relatively [33]. - LME Premium and Discount: In August, the LME market's Cash/3M changed from a discount to a premium [39]. 3. Profit and Inventory - Electrolytic Aluminum Smelting Profit: In August, the average smelting profit of primary aluminum was 4,284.2 yuan/ton, a month - on - month decrease of 3.8% compared with July and a year - on - year increase of 104.5% [44]. - Electrolytic Aluminum Inventory: At the end of August, the domestic social inventory of aluminum ingots was 610,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 85,000 tons, and the inventory accumulation continued, a year - on - year decrease of 24.5%. The bonded - area inventory was 99,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 7.4% and a year - on - year increase of 126.1%. The LME inventory was 481,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 3.9% [47][53]. - Aluminum Rod Inventory: At the end of August, the domestic aluminum rod inventory was 143,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 14,000 tons. The combined inventory of aluminum ingots and aluminum rods continued to accumulate [50]. - LME Inventory Structure: The proportion of aluminum from India in the LME aluminum ingot inventory increased, significantly squeezing the proportion of Russian aluminum [57]. 4. Cost Side - Bauxite Price: In August, the prices of domestic and overseas bauxite were stable [65]. - Alumina Price: In August, the domestic alumina price decreased by 45 yuan/ton, and the import price decreased by 15 US dollars/ton [70]. - Electrolytic Aluminum Smelting Cost: In August, the anode price remained flat, and the thermal coal price increased by 24 yuan/ton during the month [75]. 5. Supply Side - Alumina: In August, the monthly output of alumina was 7.738 million tons, an increase of 88,000 tons compared with July and a year - on - year increase of 7.16% [80]. - Electrolytic Aluminum: As of the end of August, the domestic operating capacity of electrolytic aluminum was about 44 million tons, with a slight increase due to the commissioning of some electrolytic aluminum replacement projects. The output was 3.733 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 1.22%. In September, the operating capacity of electrolytic aluminum is expected to continue to increase slightly [83]. - Aluminum Water Ratio: In August, the domestic aluminum water ratio rebounded by 1.3%. The ingot - casting volume of electrolytic aluminum decreased by 10.4% year - on - year and 4.68% month - on - month to about 931,000 tons. As downstream consumption enters the peak season, it is estimated that the aluminum water ratio will continue to rebound in September [86]. - Provincial Output of Electrolytic Aluminum: In August, the output of each province remained basically unchanged compared with July. The output in Shandong decreased by 18,700 tons, and the output in Yunnan increased by 28,000 tons [89]. 6. Demand Side - Downstream Operating Rate: In August, the output of Chinese aluminum rods was 1.5345 million tons, a month - on - month increase of 4% and a year - on - year increase of 2.1%. The capacity utilization rate was 59%, a month - on - month increase of 1.9%. In July, the operating rates of aluminum profiles, plate - strip - foil, primary aluminum - based alloy ingots, and aluminum rods decreased month - on - month. The operating rate of recycled aluminum alloy enterprises was weak in the off - season in July. In August, the price difference between aluminum ingots and aluminum alloys decreased by 504 yuan/ton to 424 yuan/ton [95][104][108]. - Terminal Demand: According to the production scheduling reports of three major white - goods released by Industry Online, in September 2025, the production schedule of household air - conditioners was 10.75 million units, a decrease of 12.0% compared with the actual output of the same period last year; the production schedule of refrigerators was 8.21 million units, a decrease of 6.3% compared with the actual output of the same period last year; the production schedule of washing machines was 8.11 million units, a decrease of 1.1% compared with the actual output of the same period last year. The demand expectation related to home appliances was still weak. Currently, the real - estate data was also weak, the automobile production and sales were acceptable, the photovoltaic installation decreased, and the related demand also faced pressure [112]. 7. Imports and Exports - Aluminum Ingot and Primary Aluminum Imports: In July 2025, China imported 248,200 tons of primary aluminum, a month - on - month increase of 29.07% and a year - on - year increase of 91.19%. The cumulative import volume from January to July was 1.4975 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 10.99%. In August, the loss of aluminum ingot spot imports widened. In July, the aluminum ingot imports mainly came from Russia, Indonesia, India, Australia, Malaysia, etc., with 190,834 tons from Russia, accounting for 77% [117][120]. - Aluminum Product Exports: In July 2025, China exported 542,000 tons of unwrought aluminum and aluminum products, a month - on - month increase of over 50,000 tons. The cumulative export volume from January to July was 3.462 million tons, a year - on - year decrease of 8% [123]. - Recycled Aluminum Imports: In July 2025, the import volume of recycled aluminum was 160,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 4,000 tons and a year - on - year increase of 18.7%. The import volume in the first seven months was 1.173 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 8.4% [123]. - Bauxite and Alumina Imports and Exports: In July 2025, China imported 20.063 million tons of bauxite, with the imported ore accounting for 77.7%. The cumulative imported bauxite from January to July was 123.31 million tons. In July, China exported 229,000 tons of alumina, a month - on - month increase of 34.2% and a year - on - year increase of 9.0%. The cumulative alumina export from January to July was 1.57 million tons [126].
铝月报：旺季临近，震荡偏强-20250905
Wu Kuang Qi Huo·2025-09-05 13:24