Report Information - Report Title: Non-ferrous Metal Arbitrage Weekly Report 20250707 [2] - Researchers: Zhang Jiefu, Wang Yanhong [2] Industry Investment Rating - No relevant information provided Core Views - For aluminum in the inter - period strategy, domestic demand has entered the off - season with reduced orders, aluminum rods are starting to accumulate inventory, and the inflection point of social inventory is approaching, so there is a risk of aluminum price rising and then falling. After the off - season, demand is expected to support the aluminum price again. It is recommended to participate in the inter - period reverse arbitrage of aluminum by rolling at low prices [4]. - For the cross - variety strategy of aluminum and zinc, domestic refined zinc output has significantly recovered, and new zinc mine projects globally are expected to gradually release incremental output this year. While aluminum social inventory is low, which supports the price, and its fundamentals are stronger than zinc. It is recommended to participate in the long - aluminum and short - zinc strategy by rolling at low prices [4]. Summary by Directory Part I: Weekly Price Performance Review and Fund Flow - **Price Review**: From June 27, 2025, to July 4, 2025, LME copper decreased by 0.27% (from 9879 to 9852), LME aluminum increased by 0.10% (from 2595 to 2597.5), LME zinc decreased by 1.55% (from 2778.5 to 2735.5), LME lead increased by 0.76% (from 2041.5 to 2057), LME nickel increased by 0.46% (from 15190 to 15260), LME tin increased by 0.61% (from 33565 to 33770). SHFE copper decreased by 0.24% (from 79920 to 79730), SHFE aluminum increased by 0.27% (from 20580 to 20635), SHFE zinc remained unchanged (at 22410), SHFE lead increased by 0.99% (from 17125 to 17295), SHFE nickel increased by 1.49% (from 120480 to 122270), and SHFE tin decreased by 0.60% (from 268870 to 267250) [8]. - **Fund Flow**: The unilateral positions of most non - ferrous metals are at relatively low levels in recent years. The unilateral positions of aluminum and lead increased by 3.0% and 4.3% respectively this week, while those of zinc, nickel, and tin decreased by 2.8%, 7.3%, and 7.2% respectively. Except for tin, major non - ferrous metals had net capital outflows this week [10]. Part II: Non - ferrous Metal Inventory and Profit - **Inventory**: From June 27, 2025, to July 4, 2025, LME copper inventory increased by 4.38% (from 91275 to 95275), LME aluminum inventory increased by 5.42% (from 345200 to 363925), LME zinc inventory decreased by 5.79% (from 119225 to 112325), LME lead inventory decreased by 3.71% (from 273425 to 263275), LME nickel inventory decreased by 0.89% (from 204294 to 202470), and LME tin inventory decreased by 2.99% (from 2175 to 2110) [27]. - **Profit**: For copper, the processing fee increased slightly this week, and smelters had a loss of 2592 yuan/ton, with the loss narrowing slightly compared to last week. For aluminum, the theoretical smelting cost this week was 18348 yuan/ton, and the smelting profit decreased slightly to 2402 yuan/ton. For zinc, the import processing fee increased slightly this week, and the theoretical smelting profit of domestic mines was 1112 yuan/ton [43]. Part III: Non - ferrous Metal Basis and Term Structure - **Basis**: As of July 4, 2025, the copper basis was 790 (compared to 420 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of 0.99%, a one - year basis quantile of 92.98%, and a three - year basis quantile of 85.12%. The aluminum basis was 115 (compared to 360 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of 0.56%, a one - year basis quantile of 80.79%, and a three - year basis quantile of 76.03%. The zinc basis was 80 (compared to 280 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of 0.36%, a one - year basis quantile of 35.54%, and a three - year basis quantile of 36.78%. The lead basis was - 35 (compared to 135 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of - 0.20%, a one - year basis quantile of 33.26%, and a three - year basis quantile of 36.43%. The nickel basis was 1590 (compared to 2060 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of 1.30%, a one - year basis quantile of 77.07%, and a three - year basis quantile of 42.70%. The tin basis was 570 (compared to 1340 on June 27), with a basis premium rate of 0.21%, a one - year basis quantile of 59.71%, and a three - year basis quantile of 56.47% [46]. - **Term Structure**: This week, nickel was in the Contango structure, while copper and zinc were in the Back structure. The spread between the first - nearby contract and the nearby contract of copper was - 260, a decrease of 100 compared to last week; that of aluminum was - 180, an increase of 20 compared to last week; that of zinc was - 30, an increase of 50 compared to last week; that of lead was 55, an increase of 5 compared to last week; that of nickel was 120, a decrease of 40 compared to last week; and that of tin was 260, a decrease of 60 compared to last week [62]. Part IV: Comparison of Domestic and Overseas Metal Prices - The Shanghai - London ratios of zinc and lead are at relatively high historical levels. This week, the Shanghai - London ratios of major non - ferrous metals showed mixed trends. The Shanghai - London ratios of basic metals were 1.13 for copper, 1.11 for aluminum, 1.14 for zinc, 1.17 for lead, 1.12 for nickel, and 1.10 for tin. This week, the import profit and loss of lead and nickel were 155 and 46 respectively, while those of other major metals were negative. Cross - market arbitrage can focus on factors such as the Fed's interest - rate cut policy, the comparison of domestic and overseas inventories, and the expectation of domestic growth - stabilizing policies [79]. Part V: Changes in Cross - variety Ratios of Non - ferrous Metals - The report provides the current values, values three months ago, and values one year ago of cross - variety ratios and differences for various non - ferrous metal combinations, including copper - aluminum, copper - zinc, copper - lead, etc., as well as their corresponding quantiles [96].