Electricity prices in the southwest region also grew, causing a rise in the average electricity cost of domestic aluminium by RMB 0.006 per kWh to RMB 0.413 kWh.
Thus, the domestic aluminium cost grew by RMB 130 per tonne from the pre-holiday level to around RMB 16,151 per tonne. Meanwhile, the aluminium spot price fell back-to-back for four days, resulting in an immediate profit fall for smelters.
On October 12, the domestic aluminium spot price was RMB 19,250 per tonne and the average spot profit was RMB 3,099 per tonne, down by RMB 730 per tonne from the pre-holiday level.
At present, there's a fall in coal prices, but SMM suggests that it is a temporary event as domestic demand is nearing its peak. Also, a strong need for downstream stockpiling is expected to lead to a rise in coal prices. Thus, the industry's electricity costs will likely increase steadily in Q4 2023, leading to further domestic aluminium smelter cost hikes in the future.
