The spot market for alumina has seen a slowdown in its upward momentum, though the overall trend remains bullish. During the weekend, heavy pollution control measures and emergency responses in the Lüliang region, along with increased rain and snow in Northwest China and Eastern Mongolia, led to disruptions in highway transportation. These factors are expected to prompt downstream aluminum plants with low inventories to increase stocking actions under limited supply and demand conditions. On one hand, long-term contract execution and rail transport are being strongly promoted, while on the other hand, more extensive procurement activities are taking place in the spot market. Cost pressures in the past have led to some aluminum plants bringing forward maintenance or reducing production capacity. In the future, there is a possibility that raw material shortages may cause some aluminum plants to further cut back production or bring forward maintenance schedules.
