Copper Wire and Cable Industry Sees Decline in Operating Rates Amid High Copper Prices

Published: Apr 30, 2026 22:08

Save

This week (April 24–April 30), the SMM operating rate of copper wire and cable enterprises was 65.9%, down 1.09 percentage points WoW. Copper prices hovered at highs this week, and earlier concentrated procurement had front-loaded some subsequent demand. Industry orders in the wire and cable industry remained weak, with operating rates continuing to decline. Next week, wire and cable industry operations will continue to pull back. Most enterprises will have a short Labour Day holiday break, with some choosing to cut production or maintain operations without shutting down. The operating rate is expected to continue falling by 3.12 percentage points WoW to 62.78%.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

Common.Time.hoursAgo

Sandfire Reports Record Earnings but Flags Diesel Cost Risks

Sandfire Resources reported record earnings driven by strong copper prices and production growth, but warned that rising diesel costs could pressure margins going forward.

Common.Time.hoursAgo

Chinese Demand Offsets Geopolitical Risks, Copper Stays Range-Bound

Copper prices have remained range-bound for two weeks as stalled US-Iran talks cap upside, while stronger Chinese demand and a weaker US dollar provide support.

Common.Time.hoursAgo

May 2, 2026 20:40

"Divergent Labour Day Production Strategies Among China's Secondary Copper Rod Firms Amid Policy and Capital Pressures"

During the 2026 Labour Day holiday, production arrangements among China's secondary copper rod enterprises showed a notable divergence, with some choosing to halt production for the holiday while others maintained normal operations

May 2, 2026 20:40