Strait of Hormuz Closure Could Disrupt Global Copper Supply Chains, Warns Ivanhoe Mines Chairman

In April 2026, the secondary copper rod operating rate was 12.79%, higher than the expected 11.93%, down 1.46 percentage points MoM and 21.1 percentage points YoY. Looking back at the entire month of April, the secondary copper rod market, under the prevailing theme of copper prices fluctuating upward, was mired in structural contradictions triggered by industrial policies,...

[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.

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.