China’s refined copper output up 8% in May

China’s refined copper output rose by 8.1% month-on-month in May despite maintenance at several major smelters during the period.

China’s refined copper output rose by 8.1% month-on-month in May despite maintenance at several major smelters during the period.

Output in May reached 652,379 tonnes, compared with 603,498 tonnes in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data released late last week showed. Output was 5.52% higher on an annual basis.

China produced 3.09 million tonnes of refined copper during the first five months of 2015, up 9.51% year-on-year.

Maintenance carried out by major smelters including Jinchuan, Xiangguang and Tongling Nonferrous during the months failed to curb output.

“As these are scheduled annual shutdowns, enough anode and blister can be be prepared in advance, making the real maintenance time much shorter,” said a major smelter source.

The Metal Bulletin Copper Concentrates Index for 28% clean copper concentrates was calculated at $86.8 per dmt and 8.68 cents per lb on June 15, the lowest since September 2013.

Kiki Kang
Kiki.kang@metalbulletinasia.com
Wechat: KikiKang_MB

What to read next
US export controls on recycled copper would have unintended consequences that could weaken the country’s domestic recycling and manufacturing ecosystems, the president of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) said.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments for nickel 4x4 cathode, nickel briquette and nickel uncut cathode premiums in-whs Rotterdam was delayed on Tuesday July 16 because of a reporter error.
Fastmarkets has corrected its alumina index inferred prices, which were published incorrectly on Tuesday July 15.
The United States' copper recycling industry is ramping up pressure on policymakers to impose some form of export controls on high-purity copper scrap, arguing that current trade dynamics – particularly with China – are distorting prices, weakening domestic capacity and undermining national security goals.
Fastmarkets launched two new price assessments for Indonesia’s domestic trade in nickel ore on Tuesday July 15. The two price assessments are for domestic trades of Indonesian laterite ores with 1.6% and 1.2% nickel content. Indonesia now accounts for 60% of the global nickel supplies and while there is an official government reference price, known […]
US copper scrap market participants are shifting from COMEX to LME pricing in response to extreme price volatility and a new 50% copper import tariff. The change is influencing discount formulas, export strategies and long-term trading dynamics across the sector.