Chinese Copper Smelters to Finalise Guidance TCs for Spot Copper Concentrate Procurement in Second Quarter of 2023

Published: Mar 27, 2023 15:50
Source: SMM
As of last Friday March 24, the SMM Imported Copper Concentrate Index (weekly) stood at $77.81/mt, $2.23/mt higher than the previous week. The spot market of copper concentrate was quiet.

SHANGHAI, Mar 27 (SMM) - As of last Friday March 24, the SMM Imported Copper Concentrate Index (weekly) stood at $77.81/mt, $2.23/mt higher than the previous week. The spot market of copper concentrate was quiet.

This week, the China Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT) will finalise the guidance TCs for spot copper concentrate procurement in the second quarter of 2023 at the office meeting of the general managers in the first quarter of 2023.

SMM heard that market participants expect that the to-be-set guidance TCs may exceed the benchmark TCs for long-term contracts in 2023. Smelters may start to make inquiries about the spot raw materials for the second half of the year after the CSPT group meeting this week. At present, traders’ quotes of the seaborne clean ore scheduled for shipments in the second quarter stand at above $78/mt, and the inquiries of smelters stand at $81-85/mt. The price coefficient of Cu 20% domestic ore stood at 88.5-89.5%.


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
Yuguang Gold and Lead Group Reveals Mining Rights and Production Capacity of Ye Group's Mines
May 15, 2026 19:15
Yuguang Gold and Lead Group Reveals Mining Rights and Production Capacity of Ye Group's Mines
Read More
Yuguang Gold and Lead Group Reveals Mining Rights and Production Capacity of Ye Group's Mines
Yuguang Gold and Lead Group Reveals Mining Rights and Production Capacity of Ye Group's Mines
[Lead Smelter Updates] It was reported that Yuguang Gold and Lead Group stated on an interactive platform that Ye Group holds the mining rights to the Shuikoushan lead-zinc mine and the Baifang copper mine, with 3 mines (the Kangjiawan mine and the lead-zinc mine both fall under the Shuikoushan lead-zinc mine mining rights) and 1 beneficiation plant, possessing an annual mining and beneficiation capacity of 860,000 mt of raw ore. Its captive mines can produce lead concentrates, copper concentrates, gold concentrates, and other mineral products, providing raw material support for the company.
May 15, 2026 19:15
Robust Backlog Orders Sustain High Operating Rates for Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Enterprises
May 15, 2026 17:59
Robust Backlog Orders Sustain High Operating Rates for Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Enterprises
Read More
Robust Backlog Orders Sustain High Operating Rates for Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Enterprises
Robust Backlog Orders Sustain High Operating Rates for Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Enterprises
According to SMM, copper prices surged this week, significantly suppressing new order intake in the copper plate/sheet and strip industry. However, thanks to ample backlog orders accumulated in the earlier period, industry production demonstrated strong resilience. Demand orders from core downstream sectors such as power, new energy, and electronics remained generally stable, supporting full production schedules for most enterprises. As a result, the industry's operating rate continued to fluctuate at highs.
May 15, 2026 17:59
Copper Enamelled Wire Industry Operating Rate Rebound Falls Short of Expectations
May 15, 2026 17:50
Copper Enamelled Wire Industry Operating Rate Rebound Falls Short of Expectations
Read More
Copper Enamelled Wire Industry Operating Rate Rebound Falls Short of Expectations
Copper Enamelled Wire Industry Operating Rate Rebound Falls Short of Expectations
The operating rate of the enamelled wire industry rebounded WoW this week, but the recovery was weaker than expectations. As holiday disruptions faded, machine operating rates rebounded WoW. However, surging copper prices suppressed downstream ordering, dragging on the overall recovery pace, with new orders rising only marginally.
May 15, 2026 17:50