China's imported copper cathode losses widen, the export window opens but the volume remains limited

Published: Aug 27, 2026 16:42

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[SMM Copper Import and Export Market Flash] Recently, China's copper cathode import losses have continued to widen, and the export window has opened again. As of press time, the September contract import loss was about 1,900 yuan/mt. However, according to SMM, actual export volume growth remains constrained by two factors: on the one hand, severe port congestion in many parts of China, with tight booking and shipping delays; on the other hand, low social inventory and tight supply at smelters, limiting current copper cathode exports.

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