Jefferies downgrades South32 stock rating to Hold on aluminium, manganese concerns

Published 11/08/2025, 11:36
Jefferies downgrades South32 stock rating to Hold on aluminium, manganese concerns

Investing.com - Jefferies downgraded South32 (OTC:SOUHY) Limited (ASX:S32) (OTC:SHTLF) from Buy to Hold and lowered its price target to AUD3.20 from AUD3.40.

The downgrade reflects Jefferies’ concerns about potential pressure on South32’s aluminium business due to Indonesia’s expanding aluminium supply chain, which may undermine the price floor previously established by China’s smelting cap.

Jefferies noted that the Indonesian expansion could dilute the integrated cost advantage currently enjoyed by South32’s aluminium operations, leading to reduced pricing and realisations.

The firm also highlighted concerns about South32’s GEMCO manganese operation, suggesting its return to a market already facing supply abundance could negatively impact price realisations in the near term.

Without either supply rationalisation or demand stimulus, Jefferies anticipates medium-term margin pressure for South32’s Aluminium and Manganese divisions, which prompted the rating downgrade.

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