As of September 11, aluminum billet inventories in major domestic consumption areas stood at 132,500 tonnes, down 7,500 tonnes week-on-week (WoW). In terms of outbound shipments, aluminum billet outflows totaled 46,900 tonnes between September 1 and September 7, increasing by 2,600 tonnes WoW, indicating a slight rebound in shipments. As the traditional peak season progresses, downstream demand is expected to expand further, while the full resumption of production by billet manufacturers has led to a renewed increase in supply, resulting in an ongoing dynamic gambling between supply and demand.
This week, the overall operating rate of leading domestic aluminum downstream processing enterprises rose by 0.4 percentage points WoW to 62.1%, reflecting a continued strengthening of the "Golden September" effect, with various sectors showing signs of phased recovery.
The operating rate in the aluminum cable sector increased slightly by 0.4 percentage points to 65.2%, as the lifting of regional environmental inspections and support from grid orders drove higher production activity among leading enterprises.
The operating rate for aluminum profiles rebounded by 1 percentage point to 54%, accelerated by the shift from construction profiles to industrial profiles. Processing fees for photovoltaic frames have bottomed out and stabilized, while new orders for automotive profiles emerged as a highlight.
The operating rate of leading aluminum sheet and plate producers remained stable at a high level of 68.6%, as the stocking cycle for can materials neared its end, and demand from the automotive and 3C sectors demonstrated resilience.
The operating rate in the aluminum foil sector held steady at a peak level of 71.9%, supported by steady demand for packaging foil and battery foil.
Driven by recovering consumption in end-use sectors such as 3C, automotive, and photovoltaics, the aluminum processing industry has reentered its peak-season rhythm.