LME Aluminium Price Ends the Week with a Strong Rally

London, July 21, 2025 – The aluminium market concluded the trading week on a positive note as prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose across the board on Friday, July 18. This rally reinforces optimistic market sentiment after a volatile week, while the price of the raw material alumina remained stable.

Detailed LME Movements (July 18, 2025)

According to official data, the LME 3-month aluminium contract increased by $34.5 per tonne, or 1.29%, to close the week at $2,705 per tonne. This is a significant milestone, indicating that buying pressure returned strongly at the end of the week.

Other key indicators also recorded gains:

• Cash Settlement Price: Rose by $34.5/tonne (+1.34%), reaching $2,591.50/tonne.
• 3-Month Asian Reference Price: Saw the sharpest increase of $51.5/tonne (+1.99%), climbing to $2,629.50/tonne.

Regarding inventories, the amount of aluminum in LME-approved warehouses saw a slight decrease of 875 tonnes, bringing the total to 429,825 tonnes. Although not a large drop, a decrease in inventory is a supportive factor for prices.

Raw Material and Alloy Markets

In contrast to the vibrant primary aluminum market, the raw material market was quiet. The Alumina (Platts) price, used for the aluminum smelting process, was unchanged from the previous day, holding steady at $366.13 per tonne.

The price for US aluminum alloy A380 also saw no change, closing at $2,575 per tonne. This stability suggests that the raw material and secondary alloy markets are currently driven by their own dynamics and are not immediately affected by the rally in LME primary aluminum.

Market Outlook

The strong price rally at the end of the week has brought positive sentiment to the aluminum market. Investors will be closely watching whether this momentum can be sustained into the next week, especially as new macroeconomic data is released. The stability of alumina prices may help producers manage costs, while the decline in LME inventories will continue to be a short-term price support factor.