Aluminium sheet price, week 40/2026: SMM A00 eases to 24,030

Week 40/2026 (28 September to 4 October) had only three trading sessions in the Chinese aluminium market: the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) closed for National Day from 1 to 7 October and reopens on 8 October. All three sessions were down. In the last session before the holiday, Wednesday 30 September, the SMM A00 aluminium ingot price closed at 24,030 CNY/t, down 210 CNY/t (about 0.87%) from the last session of week 39 on 24 September.

SMM A00 over the last eight sessions, LME 3-month and Vietcombank USD rate (compiled by H&D Steel)

Aluminium sheet price, week 40/2026: key figures

The SMM A00 price refers to A00-grade aluminium ingot in warehouse in Shanghai or Wuxi and includes China's 13% value-added tax. It is a raw material price. The price of sheet and coil imported into Vietnam is built from this ingot price plus rolling and processing fees (hot rolling, cold rolling, annealing, slitting), freight, import duty and financing costs. A drop of a few hundred yuan in the ingot price therefore does not always pass straight through to sheet prices.

SMM A00 over the last eight sessions

After peaking at 24,380 CNY/t on 18 September, A00 eased to 24,320 CNY/t (21 September) and 24,270 CNY/t (22 September), then held at 24,240 CNY/t on 23 and 24 September. After the three-day Mid-Autumn break, it fell by 70 CNY/t to 24,170 CNY/t (28 September), by 60 CNY/t to 24,110 CNY/t (29 September) and by 80 CNY/t to 24,030 CNY/t (30 September). It now stands 350 CNY/t below the 18 September peak.

One point to note: SMM's weekly review puts the drop from the previous Thursday at 190 CNY/t, while SMM's own daily closing prices (24,240 to 24,030) give a drop of 210 CNY/t. This update uses the 210 figure calculated from session closes.

On fundamentals, SMM reported that aluminium ingot stocks in China's main consumption areas fell by about 40,000 tonnes from Thursday 24 September, and the composite PMI of China's aluminium processing industry for September reached 53.9%, back above 50 for the first time in two months. Peak-season demand is there, but macro pressure (a strong US dollar and high US Treasury yields) is weighing on prices. SMM expects aluminium prices mainly to consolidate with adjustments.

LME and exchange rate: two reference lines

While China was on holiday, aluminium on the London Metal Exchange (LME) fell faster: three-month aluminium settled at 3,122 USD/t on 2 October, 145 USD/t below 25 September and 88 USD/t lower in the two sessions of 1 and 2 October alone. This is worth watching when SHFE reopens on 8 October, but LME alone should not be used to infer the price of sheet imported from China.

As for the exchange rate, on 5 October Vietcombank quoted a USD selling rate of 26,170 VND, only 10 VND below 25 September. With the rate almost flat, it has not materially changed the dong cost of imported shipments.

What this means for aluminium sheet and coil buyers

• Raw material prices are leaning lower, but the move is small. The 210 CNY/t drop is less than 1% of the ingot price. For A1050, A3003 and A5052 sheet orders, rolling fees, freight and duties do not follow the ingot price, so sheet prices may only edge down.
• Wait for the 8 October session before fixing large orders. When trading resumes, Shanghai prices may reflect the LME decline during the holiday. For non-urgent orders, ask for a quote now and agree to fix it after 8 October; for orders needed in October, confirm alloy, thickness, temper and schedule early, as Chinese mills and ports need a few days to restart after the holiday.
• Ask how long a quote is valid. Quotes received during the holiday are usually based on the 30 September price; ask whether they will be adjusted after the holiday.
• Compare quotes on the same basis. Check whether VAT is included, whether delivery is ex-warehouse or to your plant, the temper (H14, H24, O…) and the thickness tolerance. Two quotes sometimes differ only because of temper or tolerance.

See the previous week's update: aluminium sheet price, week 39/2026.

What to watch next week

In week 41/2026, watch whether A00 holds its 30 September level in the 8 October session, how much ingot stocks build over the holiday, and whether LME keeps falling.

References

• SMM: A00 price, 30/9 session
• SMM: weekly review to 30/9
• SMM: morning meeting 30/9 (PMI, inventory)
• SMM: morning meeting 29/9; daily review 29/9; morning meetings 21/9 to 24/9
• SMM: A00 price methodology
• Westmetall: LME aluminium settlements
• Webgia: Vietcombank exchange rates
• SHFE: 2026 holiday schedule; Vietnambiz: Vietcombank exchange rates

Need a quote for aluminium sheet or coil to your exact specification? See our aluminium sheet A1050, A3003, A5052 and aluminium coil and slit strip pages, or contact H&D Steel: hotline/Zalo 0904 678 236 (Sales Department). Please include alloy, thickness, width, temper and quantity so we can give you an accurate quote.