The magnesium ingot market in Shaanxi region has declined, with an average market price of 15750 yuan/ton as of the end of the month and 16100 yuan/ton at the beginning of the month, a decrease of 2.17%.
This month’s market analysis
In September, domestic magnesium prices showed a characteristic of “rising and falling, and a stepped downward trend”. At the beginning of the month, influenced by the synchronous rise in coal, blue charcoal, and silicon iron prices, magnesium prices briefly emerged from a three consecutive upward trend. However, since September 10th, magnesium prices have entered a downward channel, basically giving up all the gains at the beginning of the month.
Fundamentals:
On the supply side, the production reduction effect has weakened, and the output has bottomed out and rebounded. In early September, the significant increase in coal and silicon iron prices pushed up production costs. Three original magnesium enterprises in the Fugu area voluntarily stopped production for maintenance, and some enterprises reduced their production load. The weekly output decreased by 4.17% month on month to a temporary low. But as we entered mid to late September, the early maintenance capacity gradually resumed production. From September 18th to 24th, the weekly output of sample magnesium plants in China rebounded to 23177 tons, with a month on month increase of 4.11% in operating rate. Some companies have stated that they will cease production and maintenance again after the National Day holiday, and the resumption of production and maintenance will be intertwined. The future direction of production is still unclear.
On the demand side: The peak season of “Golden September” has fallen short, with basic demand providing support but insufficient growth. Downstream magnesium alloy die-casting enterprises mainly consume their own inventory and maintain sporadic replenishment of inventory as needed. The long-term substitution logic in the fields of aluminum alloy addition and magnesium alloy lightweighting is still in place, but the short-term incremental release is insufficient. In terms of exports, due to the slower than expected recovery of overseas demand and tight port shipping schedules, the follow-up of foreign trade orders is relatively slow, and the delivery of existing orders in the early stage is the main focus, with no support for the landing of new orders.
Cost side: Cost support is first strong and then weak. At the beginning of the month, the prices of blue charcoal and silicon iron rose together, and the increase in raw coal prices was gradually transmitted to the magnesium smelting process, with most factories in a state of cost inversion. But as the price of mid month orchid charcoal falls and the cost center shifts downwards, the support for magnesium prices further weakens.
Future forecast
The current magnesium market lacks substantial positive support in terms of fundamentals, and the technical aspect is still in a bearish dominant stage. However, magnesium factories are generally trapped in cost inversion and have a strong willingness to raise prices. Coupled with downstream demand for temporary replenishment after the holiday, the further downward space for magnesium prices is limited. It is expected that the short-term magnesium price will mainly operate at a bottom, with a focus on the operating range of 15700-15900 yuan/ton. Subsequent focus should be on the game between the resumption pace of production in the main production areas and the second maintenance after the holiday, whether the downstream replenishment demand can be fulfilled, and the marginal changes in the prices of blue charcoal and ferrosilicon.
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