First trades on CME copper premium contract point to Q1 2018 level at $65-68/t

Initial trades on the CME’s copper cif Shanghai futures contract suggest physical premiums for grade A cathodes will be at $65-68 per tonne for the first quarter of 2018.

Trades came in on Wednesday in the form of 25 lots placed on January, February and March contracts, all at $65 per tonne.

On Thursday a further 50 lots for each month of the first quarter were traded at a premium level of $68 per tonne, bringing the total to 225 lots and 5,625 tonnes.

The contract is settled against the monthly average of the Metal Bulletin daily copper premiums assessment, basis cif Shanghai.

Today’s assessment saw the Shanghai copper premium move up by $2 to a range of $70-82 per tonne.

The latest monthly average was $71.35 per tonne for November.

Those wishing to find out more about the contract and how Metal Bulletin assesses copper premiums in Shanghai can view a webinar featuring deputy Asia editor Kiki Kang and the CME’s Shan Islam here.

What to read next
Half a million tonnes of copper is sitting in US warehouses, and the traders who put it there are starting to wonder whether they’ve built a hedge, or a trap.
European automotive procurement faces growing complexity due to regional cost volatility and policy-driven supply chains reshaping material pricing and sourcing strategies. This demands granular, region-specific market intelligence for precise cost modeling and strategic decision-making.
The assessment, which currently follows the UK holiday calendar, will follow the Singapore holiday calendar after the proposed change. There will be no change to the publication timing, and the assessment will continue to be published weekly on Wednesdays, at 7pm Singapore time. The purpose of the adjustment is to align the timing to the […]
JX Advanced Metals, Mitsui Kinzoku, Marubeni and Mitsubishi Materials(MMC) inked a deal to integrate MMC's copper concentrate procurement and related products sales business into Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), marking a significant consolidation of Japan's copper concentrate purchasing sector amid persistent pressure from weak treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs).
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.