Core Viewpoint - China Aluminum's stock price dropped nearly 5% after the release of its interim results, reflecting market concerns over its financial performance despite a slight increase in revenue and profit [1] Financial Performance - For the first half of the year, China Aluminum reported operating revenue of 116.392 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.12% [1] - The net profit for the same period was 7.071 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 0.81% [1] - In the second quarter, the company experienced a decline in operating revenue to 60.61 billion yuan, down 1.9% year-on-year [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders in the second quarter was 3.53 billion yuan, reflecting a significant year-on-year decrease of 26.2% [1] - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 0.123 yuan per share, totaling approximately 2.11 billion yuan, which represents 30% of the net profit attributable to shareholders [1] Market Outlook - Huatai Securities noted that low inventory levels are currently supporting high aluminum prices, and demand in the photovoltaic sector is expected to maintain a high growth rate in the second half of the year despite the end of the policy-driven installation surge [1] - The automotive sector is also anticipated to sustain high growth due to domestic vehicle replacement policies [1] - The overseas economy is expected to gradually recover in the second half of the year amid a rate-cutting cycle [1] - The firm maintains an optimistic outlook for aluminum demand in the second half of 2025, predicting a potential upward trend in aluminum prices [1] - In terms of alumina, the mining sector has entered a destocking phase, making it difficult for bauxite prices to decline, while the alumina segment may face a loose supply situation but is unlikely to see significant price drops due to cost support [1]

Core Viewpoint - The aluminum oxide futures market is experiencing volatility, with recent price fluctuations influenced by supply-demand dynamics and external factors such as Guinea's mining policies [3][4]. Market Supply and Demand Dynamics - The aluminum oxide futures market has seen a notable decrease in trading activity, shifting focus back to fundamental factors. In April, widespread maintenance and production cuts due to losses led to tighter spot supply. In May, changes in Guinea's mineral resource policies contributed to a price surge, with futures prices nearing 3300 yuan/ton [3]. - As the excitement around Guinea's mining policy subsides, bearish forces have emerged, causing aluminum oxide futures prices to drop back to the 2900-3000 yuan/ton range. The Guinea government's revocation of the AXIS mining license primarily affects bauxite mining and does not significantly alleviate the oversupply crisis in the ore market [3]. Inventory and Capacity Pressure - The recent decline in aluminum oxide futures prices is primarily due to the arrival of an inventory turning point. Weekly production of aluminum oxide has increased for three consecutive weeks, and the arrival of over 30,000 tons from new Indonesian projects has shifted social inventory from depletion to accumulation [4]. - With the supply side recovering significantly in June, the pressure of overcapacity has increased. Current bauxite prices in Guinea are around 75 USD/ton, allowing domestic aluminum oxide producers to maintain high profit margins at 3300 yuan/ton. If the production cuts in Guinea do not expand further, the domestic bauxite supply is expected to balance throughout the year [4].

Report Industry Investment Rating - Unilateral: Aluminum: Neutral; Alumina: Neutral [4] - Arbitrage: Long the near and short the far in SHFE aluminum futures [5] Core Viewpoints - For electrolytic aluminum, the traditional off - season is approaching, the rush for exports may be near the end, the destocking of social inventory has slowed down, and the aluminum price is under pressure. Without other positive factors, it's difficult for the aluminum price to rise further. Attention should be paid to social inventory changes and overseas interference [3] - For alumina, the spot price follows the strong trend of the futures market. The futures price has risen due to disturbances at the Guinea ore end. Although the bauxite imports increased significantly from January to April and there may be no supply gap even if the Axis mine stops production completely, there are concerns about the expansion of restrictions [3] Summary by Related Catalogs Aluminum Spot and Futures - On May 19, 2025, the Yangtze River A00 aluminum price was 20,230 yuan/ton, down 40 yuan/ton from the previous trading day. The spot premium of Yangtze River A00 aluminum decreased by 10 yuan/ton to 80 yuan/ton. The Zhongyuan A00 aluminum price was 20,150 yuan/ton, and its spot premium decreased by 10 yuan/ton to - 10 yuan/ton. The Foshan A00 aluminum price was 20,110 yuan/ton, and its spot premium increased by 5 yuan/ton to - 50 yuan/ton [1] - On May 19, 2025, the main contract of SHFE aluminum opened at 20,125 yuan/ton, closed at 20,110 yuan/ton, down 40 yuan/ton (-0.2%) from the previous trading day's closing price. The trading volume was 199,900 lots, an increase of 63,926 lots from the previous trading day, and the open interest was 201,358 lots, a decrease of 2,699 lots [1] Alumina Spot and Futures - On May 19, 2025, the SMM alumina price in Shanxi was 3,025 yuan/ton, in Shandong was 2,950 yuan/ton, in Guangxi was 3,025 yuan/ton, and the FOB price of Australian alumina was 370 US dollars/ton [2] - On May 19, 2025, the main contract of alumina futures opened at 2,938 yuan/ton, closed at 3,127 yuan/ton, up 184 yuan/ton (6.25%) from the previous trading day's closing price. The trading volume was 2,886,512 lots, an increase of 1,465,036 lots from the previous trading day, and the open interest was 310,945 lots, a decrease of 32,504 lots [2] Inventory - As of May 19, 2025, the domestic social inventory of electrolytic aluminum ingots was 585,000 tons. The LME aluminum inventory was 393,450 tons, a decrease of 2,000 tons from the previous trading day [1] Market Transactions - On May 19, 2025, 2,000 tons of alumina spot were traded in Henan at a cash - on - delivery ex - factory price of 3,000 yuan/ton. An electrolytic aluminum plant in Xinjiang tendered to purchase 10,000 tons of alumina spot at a delivered price between 3,400 - 3,470 yuan/ton. 10,000 tons of alumina spot were traded in Shanxi at a cash - on - delivery ex - factory price of 3,150 yuan/ton [3]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - The investment rating for the alumina industry is "oscillation" [1] 2. Core View of the Report - Guinea's ore disturbances have intensified, leading to a rebound in alumina futures prices. The supply of domestic ore remains tight, and the issue of Guinea's government revoking some mining licenses has further escalated, increasing concerns about long - term ore supply. The spot price of alumina has risen, with increased market trading volume. The static supply - demand imbalance has improved, and the inventory has started to decline. The cost side has shown obvious loosening, and the subsequent focus is on the progress of Guinea's ore disturbances [1][12][14] 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Alumina Industry Chain Weekly Overview - **Raw Materials**: Domestic ore prices were temporarily stable last week. Due to safety, environmental protection, resource integration, and grade decline, the overall supply of domestic ore was tight. The import market was in a stalemate, and the problem of Guinea revoking mining licenses escalated, involving an annual production capacity of about 40 million tons. The newly arrived ore was 4.099 million tons, including 3.242 million tons from Guinea and 0.805 million tons from Australia. The shipping freight from Guinea to China decreased slightly to $19 per ton [11] - **Alumina**: The spot price of alumina rose last week. The trading atmosphere in the market continued to heat up, and the demand from traders and some downstream increased. The export window of Chinese alumina remained closed. The national alumina operating capacity fluctuated slightly, with a construction capacity of 110.82 million tons, an operating capacity of 86.85 million tons, and an operating rate of 78.4% [12] - **Demand**: There was no change in domestic and overseas demand. The domestic electrolytic aluminum operating capacity was 43.923 million tons, and the overseas electrolytic aluminum operating capacity was 29.408 million tons, both remaining unchanged week - on - week [13] - **Inventory**: As of May 15th, the national alumina inventory was 3.246 million tons, a decrease of 42,000 tons from last week. The alumina inventory of some electrolytic aluminum enterprises continued to decline, while the inventory of alumina enterprises fluctuated slightly. The in - transit and shipped alumina increased, and the port export volume increased [13] - **Warehouse Receipts**: The registered warehouse receipts of alumina on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were 204,735 tons, a decrease of 45,028 tons from last week. The previous large surplus had been significantly alleviated, and the supply shortage in the short - term led to inventory reduction [14] 3.2 Weekly Key Event News Summary in the Industry Chain - In Shanxi, 0.3 million tons of alumina were traded at an ex - factory price of 3,000 yuan per ton on May 14th [15] - In Guangxi, 0.2 million tons of alumina were traded at a price of 3,050 yuan per ton [15] - In Henan, 0.2 million tons of alumina were traded at an ex - factory price of 3,100 yuan per ton on May 15th [15] 3.3 Key Data Monitoring of the Upstream and Downstream of the Industry Chain - **Raw Materials and Cost Side**: The data includes domestic and imported bauxite prices, domestic bauxite port inventory, shipping volume from major bauxite - importing countries, sea - floating inventory, domestic caustic soda and thermal coal price trends, and alumina production costs in various provinces [16][19][22][25][27][29] - **Alumina Price and Supply - Demand Balance**: It covers domestic and imported alumina prices, domestic electrolytic aluminum spot prices, the futures price ratio of electrolytic aluminum to alumina on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, and the weekly supply - demand balance of domestic alumina [34] - **Alumina Inventory and Warehouse Receipts**: The data involves the alumina inventory of electrolytic aluminum plants and alumina plants, domestic alumina yard/station/in - transit inventory, port inventory, total social inventory, and the warehouse receipt volume and holding volume of alumina on the Shanghai Futures Exchange [41][44][46][48]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Alumina: Oscillation [1] 2. Core View of the Report - The price of Guinea ore has further decreased, and there are uncertainties in new alumina investments in China. Alumina supply and demand and costs still face pressure, but the price valuation is not high, and some negative factors have been priced in. The futures price may gradually enter the bottom - grinding stage [1][15] 3. Summary According to the Catalog 3.1 Alumina Industry Chain Weekly Overview - **Raw Materials**: Domestic ore prices were on a downward trend last week. Shanxi 58/5 ore was priced at 700 yuan/ton, Henan 58/5 at 668 yuan/ton, and Guizhou 60/6 at 596 yuan/ton. After the May Day holiday, mine inspections were strengthened. Domestic ore supply remained tight. Imported Guinea mainstream 45/3 ore price dropped to 75 dollars/dry ton (CIF). Newly - arrived ore during the period was 4.747 million tons, including 4.11 million tons from Guinea. The freight from Guinea to China decreased slightly to 19 dollars/ton [12] - **Alumina**: The spot price of alumina rose last week. The northern comprehensive price was 2870 - 2930 yuan/ton, up 10 yuan/ton; the domestic weighted index was 2913.6 yuan/ton, up 22.4 yuan/ton. The import port price was flat. After the holiday, downstream enterprises had a strong willingness to replenish stocks. The domestic alumina full - cost was 2962 yuan/ton, with a real - time profit of - 59 yuan/ton. The number of domestic alumina enterprises under maintenance and production cuts was increasing. The national alumina production capacity was 110.82 million tons, with an operating capacity of 86.75 million tons, a decrease of 550,000 tons from before the holiday, and an operating rate of 78.2% [3][13] - **Demand**: There were no changes in domestic and overseas demand. The domestic electrolytic aluminum operating capacity was 43.923 million tons, and the overseas electrolytic aluminum operating capacity was 29.408 million tons, both remaining unchanged week - on - week [13] - **Inventory**: As of May 8, the national alumina inventory was 3.288 million tons, a decrease of 135,000 tons from before the holiday. Alumina enterprise inventories and electrolytic aluminum enterprise inventories both decreased [14] - **Warehouse Receipts**: The registered warehouse receipts of alumina on the SHFE were 249,763 tons, a decrease of 28,850 tons from last week. The supply shortage led to inventory reduction, and the uncertainty of new project investment led to a rebound in the futures price [15] 3.2 Weekly Key Event News Summary in the Industry Chain - On May 9, 200,000 tons of alumina were traded in Shandong at 2900 yuan/ton [16] - A large - scale alumina enterprise in Shandong had its third 1 - million - ton production line put into operation in mid - April. The production was mainly concentrated on the front - end of aluminum hydroxide, and the finished product was expected to be produced by the end of the month. The alumina roasting volume was difficult to increase in the short term [16] - 500,000 tons of alumina were traded in Guizhou at 3000 yuan/ton for long - term orders [16] 3.3 Key Data Monitoring of the Upstream and Downstream of the Industry Chain - **Raw Materials and Cost**: The report provided data on domestic and imported bauxite prices, bauxite port inventory, shipping volume, sea - floating inventory, domestic caustic soda and thermal coal prices, and alumina production costs in various provinces [17][19][24] - **Alumina Price and Supply - Demand Balance**: It included domestic and imported alumina prices, domestic electrolytic aluminum prices, the futures price ratio of electrolytic aluminum to alumina on the SHFE, and the weekly supply - demand balance of alumina [31][33][38] - **Alumina Inventory and Warehouse Receipts**: It covered the alumina inventory of electrolytic aluminum plants and alumina plants, domestic alumina yard/terminal/in - transit inventory, port inventory, total social inventory, and the SHFE alumina warehouse receipts and positions [41][44][48]