Aluminium gains on supply uncertainty, broad risk-on mood

On Wednesday, aluminium prices climbed as the market adopted a risk-on attitude and traders focused on supply uncertainty due to dwindling warehouse stocks. The benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange (LME) climbed 0.34% to $3,097.5 per metric ton by 0300 GMT. The most-traded aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) increased 0.11% to 23,765 yuan ($3,565.11) per ton.

Rupankar RM, head of market research and data intelligence at AL Circle, remarked that "healthy trading volumes alongside firm prices point to underlying buying conviction, with supply-side uncertainties and limited prompt availability providing a supportive floor." Orders were placed to withdraw 3,500 tons of aluminium from LME-registered warehouses in Asia, with LME stocks mainly originating from Russia, a metal that many traders have avoided.

Moreover, aluminium volumes in SHFE-monitored warehouses dropped by over 10% last week, to 212,858 tons.

The bullish sentiment was attributed to a risk-on mood, with aluminium prices aligning with stock market performance. Shares surged in South Korea, with the technology sector surging after SK Hynix reported better-than-expected third-quarter profits. Meanwhile, copper faced mixed fortunes ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, while interest rate traders anticipate a rate hike at the December meeting.

Other metals on the LME, such as zinc, lead, nickel, and tin, experienced varying price movements. On the SHFE, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin also showed different trends.