Global Aluminium Sheet Prices Inclines in March 2024, Different Regions Face Different Challenges

In March 2024, the Aluminium Sheet remained accessible to meet the USA’s needs, with Aluminium Sheet prices benefiting from market dynamics. Concurrently, Germany experienced inventory drops, while Alumina production in the Americas decreased. Decreased inventory, post-Lunar New Year recovery, and bad weather impacted market dynamics. China's suppliers faced delays, causing raw material shortages.

Aluminium Sheet prices inclines in March 2024, where this price variation resulted from disparities in the levels of supply and demand. Aluminium products remained adequately accessible to fulfill the nation's requirements as the winter season waned. However, pricing dynamics favored Aluminium Sheet. According to FRED data, the Producer Price Index for Aluminium Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing rose by 0.44% month-on-month in February. Concurrently, the US market witnessed a surge in demand for US Aluminium Sheet, driven by competitive dynamics, leading to a consistently positive demand scenario. The prices of Aluminium Sheet commodities displayed fluctuations nationwide, with some commodities seeing slight improvements due to the Easter season. FRED's data also shows a 0.18% increase in the Producer Price Index for Automobile, Light Truck, and Utility Vehicle Manufacturing, and a 0.23% increase in the Producer Price Index for Transportation Equipment: Motor Vehicles in February. This highlights the strong demand for Aluminium Sheet in the US domestic market.

A similar situation was observed in the European market in the meantime. Market dynamics were influenced by decreased inventory levels and a resurgence in downstream sectors, resulting in raw material shortages for many consumers. Germany faced a drop in Aluminium Sheet inventory levels, posing industry challenges. Alumina production in North and South America notably decreased in February 2024, according to the International Aluminium Institute. The expected rise in automotive production is set to boost demand for Aluminium Sheet, albeit gradually due to ongoing low inventory levels of key raw materials in manufacturing.

Asian market also dealt with the same situation for March 2024. Market dynamics were influenced by decreased inventory levels, the recovery of downstream sectors after the Lunar New Year, and adverse weather conditions. Additionally, data from China's National Bureau of Statistics shows that the supplier delivery time index rose to 50.6 percent in March, marking a 1.8 percentage point increase from the preceding month and indicating heightened demand in the country. March also saw China's manufacturing industry's purchasing managers' index (PMI) climb to 50.8 percent, up by 1.7 percentage points from the previous month and surpassing the threshold, signaling a rebound in the industry's climate. Specifically, the new order index for the construction sector rose to 48.2 percent, up by 0.9 percentage point from the previous month, while the service industry's index stood at 47.2 percent, a 0.5 percentage point increase from the previous month. China’s domestic Aluminium Sheet industry is energized, with increased demand, noticeable interest from the automotive sector.

US market witnessed a surge in demand for Aluminium Sheets, driven by competitive dynamics, leading to a consistently positive demand scenario. In Germany low Aluminium Sheet inventory levels, posing industry challenges may further hike the prices. Additionally, China’s domestic Aluminium Sheet industry is energized, with increased demand, noticeable interest from the automotive sector.