Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the document Core Views of the Report - In 2026, the pricing logic of aluminum metals with imagination since the fourth quarter of this year will continue. Although the year - on - year growth rate of apparent demand for aluminum metals is expected to decline further, the report remains optimistic about the unilateral direction of aluminum prices, smelting profits of aluminum plants, and price volatility due to the likely low - growth global supply [1][54][315]. - For alumina, the market is likely to see over - supply. It is recommended to sell on rebounds. The profit - grabbing ability of alumina in the industrial chain will remain weak in 2026 [196][319]. - For recycled cast aluminum alloys, prices will generally follow aluminum prices and have a certain upward elasticity. The price - to - electrolytic aluminum ratio of ADC12 is expected to rise, and its price may exceed the 2025 high [7][324]. - In 2026, key structural strategies include cross - border arbitrage, calendar spread arbitrage, cross - variety arbitrage, and over - the - counter options [8][327]. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 1. Review of 2025 Market and Main Driving Logic of Three Aluminum Products 1.1 Electrolytic Aluminum (AL) - In 2025, the aluminum price showed a low - volatility and convergent pattern for most of the time, with the annual low higher than that in 2024 and the high failing to break through the 2024 high. By the end of 2025, the price increase was 11.0%, lower than that of copper and tin [11]. - The main reasons were the "double - weak" supply - demand pattern and the lack of a clear macro - trading theme. However, since October, with the positive impact of AI - driven power demand on the supply - demand pattern, combined with stock - futures linkage, the aluminum price broke through the convergent pattern [12][14]. 1.2 Alumina (AO) - In 2025, alumina prices fell by 41.1%. In the first half of the year, there was a unilateral decline, and in the second half, there were two "advance - to - retreat" style declines. The main reason was the over - supply and inventory accumulation [17]. 1.3 Recycled Cast Aluminum Alloy (AD) - In 2025, the price center of recycled cast aluminum alloy moved up, generally following the electrolytic aluminum price. The price was supported by the supply shortage of scrap aluminum, especially in the second half of the year after the futures listing [23][24]. 1.4 Strategy Review of Three Aluminum Products - Cross - border arbitrage: In 2025, the most profitable position was the long - LME aluminum and short - SHFE aluminum (positive arbitrage), with a maximum annualized return of over 20% [26][28]. - Cross - variety arbitrage: Copper - aluminum arbitrage, alumina - aluminum arbitrage, alumina - caustic soda arbitrage, and aluminum - aluminum alloy arbitrage provided many profitable strategies [31][34]. - Calendar spread arbitrage: The basis and calendar spread structure of aluminum were generally flat. The basis opportunities of alumina and aluminum alloy were stronger than the calendar spread opportunities [44][45]. 2. Electrolytic Aluminum: Can the "Gathering of Small Demands" and Supply Stories Boost Elasticity? 2.1 Resilience of Primary Aluminum Demand - AI - related industries such as computing centers, energy storage, the US power grid, and robots, as well as military applications and "aluminum replacing copper," are expected to contribute about 1.2 - 1.6 percentage points to China's primary aluminum demand growth rate in 2026 [56][156]. - "Light and vehicle" consumption growth contribution will decline to + 0.1 percentage points, mainly due to the decline in photovoltaic demand [107][114]. - Traditional "foundation, infrastructure, and electricity" and manufacturing industries are expected to contribute 0 - 1 percentage point to the demand growth rate [116][117]. - In 2026, China's exports of aluminum products and aluminum products are expected to increase slightly, contributing 0.5 - 1 percentage point to the demand growth rate [155][156]. 2.2 Key Risks for the Bullish View - China's electrolytic aluminum production capacity ceiling is approaching, and in 2026, the production growth rate is expected to be about + 1.7%. The main risk is the potential increase in production capacity if green - power smelting can break through the ceiling [157][158][163]. - Overseas supply, especially from Indonesia, is a major risk. Although the new production in 2026 is expected to be at a low - growth rate, the power supply conditions need to be closely monitored [165][173][179]. 2.3 Supply - Demand Balance of Primary Aluminum - In China, under the baseline and optimistic scenarios in 2026, the annual shortage is expected to be 12.4 - 25.8 tons, and the inventory accumulation pressure in the first quarter is controllable [2][316]. - Globally, the supply - demand balance is expected to be in a shortage range of 19 - 82 tons, with a median of about 50 tons. Considering the production cut of the Mozambique aluminum plant, the global shortage may exceed 50 tons [2][187][316]. 3. Alumina: Where is the Bottom in the Dilemma between Fundamental Drivers and Valuation? 3.1 Supply Rigidity Remains Unsolved, and the Over - Supply Pattern is Hard to Change - As of the end of 2025, the production of alumina remained rigid. Although high - cost producers have suffered losses for two months, the production has not decreased significantly. However, there may be large - scale production cuts or maintenance in January - February [197][198]. - In 2026, there is still a large - scale new investment in alumina production capacity. The annual average growth rate of alumina production is expected to be about 5.3%, and the production - demand gap will be large [204][205]. - Overseas alumina production capacity is also increasing. Although there is a risk of overseas supply impacting the Chinese market, the Chinese market's production increase is more certain, and exports may exceed 2025 [210][211]. - In 2026, the supply - demand balance of alumina in China and globally is expected to be in a serious over - supply situation, but there are uncertainties in the inventory accumulation in the second half of the year [228][229]. 3.2 Under the Over - Supply Pattern, the Cost - Based Pricing of AO Continues - In 2026, the supply of Guinea bauxite is expected to be abundant, with a potential increase of 3693 - 6300 tons. If the monthly arrival in China exceeds 1530 tons, the supply of bauxite in China will be stable [240][241]. - Alumina's profit - grabbing ability in the industrial chain is expected to remain weak in 2026, mainly due to the decline in bauxite prices and the optimization of production capacity structure [258]. 4. Recycled Cast Aluminum Alloy: The Contradiction at the Raw Material End is Prominent, and the Ratio Center Rises 4.1 The Ratio Center of Scrap Aluminum to Electrolytic Aluminum Tends to Rise - The actual shipment volume of scrap aluminum in 2025 was lower than expected. The increase in imports did not effectively alleviate the supply shortage. The main reason was the mismatch between the supply and demand growth rates of scrap aluminum [262][271]. - The cancellation of the tax rebate policy has increased the cost of recycled aluminum enterprises, and the EU's possible export tariff on scrap aluminum may exacerbate the global supply shortage [291][296]. 4.2 Assessment of Supply and Demand of Recycled Aluminum Alloys - In 2025, the expansion rate of recycled aluminum alloy production capacity slowed down, but the capacity utilization rate was still low. In 2026, the production capacity growth rate is expected to slow down, and some production capacity may exit [300][301]. - The demand for recycled aluminum alloys has certain resilience, but the industry is still in an over - capacity situation. ADC12 is a cost - based pricing product, and the cost - pricing logic will be more obvious [307]. 5. Trading Themes to Watch in 2026 5.1 Unilateral Judgment of Electrolytic Aluminum - In 2026, the pricing logic of aluminum with imagination will continue. Although the apparent demand growth rate is expected to decline, the report is optimistic about the price, smelting profit, and price volatility. The main risks are macro - economic recession and over - production in Indonesia [315][318]. 5.2 Unilateral Judgment of Alumina - It is recommended to sell on rebounds. The over - supply pattern is difficult to change in 2026. The profit - grabbing ability in the industrial chain will remain weak, and the main risks are the introduction of a "production capacity ceiling" policy and bauxite supply disruptions in Guinea [319][323]. 5.3 Unilateral Judgment of Recycled Cast Aluminum Alloy - The price will generally follow the electrolytic aluminum price and has a certain upward elasticity. The main risks are the continuous release of new production capacity and lower - than - expected automobile consumption growth [324][326]. 5.4 Structural Strategies - Cross - border arbitrage: Positive arbitrage in the first half of the year and possible reverse arbitrage in the second half [327]. - Calendar spread arbitrage: Selectively conduct positive arbitrage [327]. - Cross - variety arbitrage: Short caustic soda based on alumina production cuts; buy aluminum and short copper when the copper - aluminum ratio rises too fast; conduct spread arbitrage between electrolytic aluminum and recycled cast aluminum alloy [327]. - Over - the - counter options: Regularly implement the low - level buying strategy - enhanced accumulative purchase [327].
2026年铝品系期货行情展望：电解铝：需求“集腋成裘”，供给故事推涨弹性几何？氧化铝：基本面驱动VS估值的困境，何处是底？铝合金
Guo Tai Jun An Qi Huo·2025-12-19 10:05