Offers for Chinese domestic spot aluminum alloy ADC12 were steady after the fall last week on the sharp drop in primary aluminum prices, while trade remained thin as there was no significant change in physical buying interest, sources said Tuesday.
The weekly assessment by Platts of China domestic ADC12 was Yuan 12,900-13,100/mt ($2,037-2,069/mt) ex-works Tuesday, unchanged from the previous week.
"Primary aluminum ingot prices are stabilizing after the sharp fall seen last week. The domestic ADC12 offers are also holding steady," said an east China-based producer, who is keeping his offers steady at Yuan 13,000/mt ex-works.
Another east China-based producer, who heard offers steady at the Yuan 12,000/mt level, said: "After the primary aluminum ingot price fell last week, market participants are worried that it may slip below Yuan 10,000/mt."
An east China-based analyst said domestic offers were generally steady this week at Yuan 12,800-13,000/mt ex works but trades remained thin on the weaker Chinese economic outlook.
The first eastern Chinese producer said: "There are very few orders from the automakers. They are the largest consumer of ADC12. We saw a rise in China's domestic car sales and production figures in September but I'm not optimistic of the October to December figures."
China's total vehicle output was 17.09 million units over January-September, down 0.8% on the year, according to latest monthly data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, or CAAM.
For the first three quarters, vehicle sales totaled 17.06 million mt, up 0.3% year-on-year.
Chinese domestic spot aluminum ingot was priced at Yuan 10,320-10,360/mt Tuesday, compared with Yuan 10,250-10,290/mt Monday and Yuan 10,370-10,410/mt last Tuesday, according to state-owned nonferrous metals information division Beijing Antaike.
November aluminum futures were at Yuan 10,370/mt on the Shanghai Futures Exchange Tuesday, compared with Yuan 10,325/mt Monday and Yuan 10,510/mt last Tuesday.
In Japan, import trades were scant as the country is closed for a public holiday, while offers generally remained steady, industry sources said.
Japan is closed Tuesday for Culture Day, a day to celebrate peace and freedom and promote culture.
Platts kept its ADC12 export price assessment steady at $1,660-$1,680/mt FOB China Tuesday, unchanged from last week, waiting for market direction after the holiday.
"It is a quiet market as Japan is closed for a holiday. I am hearing export offers steady at below $1,700/mt CIF Japan," said an east China-based producer.
A north China-based trader and another east China-based producer also heard export offers below $1,700/mt CIF Japan, while a third east China-based producer was offering at $1,700/mt CIF Japan, unchanged from last week.
"I have not traded for a while as the demand has not been good," the northern Chinese trader said.
The third eastern China producer said: "I have no inquiries. My offers are steady at $1,700/mt CIF Japan."
On Monday, the LME official cash price for aluminum was $1,467-1,468/mt, compared with $1,447-1,447.50/mt Friday and $1,467-1,468/mt last Monday.
