Spot Delivery Settled, Trading Warms Up; North China Spot Copper Shifts from Discount to Premium [SMM North China Spot Copper]

Published: Oct 16, 2026 11:45 (GMT+8)
In North China today, spot #1 copper cathode was quoted at premiums of 260-480 yuan/mt against the front-month contract, with an average premium of 370 yuan/mt, up 490 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average transaction price was 110,170 yuan/mt, down 125 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

SMM, October 16:

Today in North China, spot #1 copper cathode was quoted at a premium of 260-480 yuan/mt against the front-month contract, with an average premium of 370 yuan/mt, up 490 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average transaction price was 110,170 yuan/mt, down 125 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Futures stabilized, delivery was completed, and combined with the previous day's copper price pullback, downstream new orders increased somewhat. The procurement pace remained largely steady, and overall demand stabilized. Suppliers' willingness to sell edged up, market trading activity improved, and the spot copper basis in North China completed its repair and turned to a premium. Today, the procurement sentiment for copper cathode in North China was 2.02, unchanged from the previous trading day, while the selling sentiment was 2.89, up 0.02 from the previous trading day. ().

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 for 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
BHP Sues Spence Union Over Two Earlier Work Stoppages, Seeking $8.6 Million
46 mins ago
BHP Sues Spence Union Over Two Earlier Work Stoppages, Seeking $8.6 Million
Read More
BHP Sues Spence Union Over Two Earlier Work Stoppages, Seeking $8.6 Million
BHP Sues Spence Union Over Two Earlier Work Stoppages, Seeking $8.6 Million
BHP has sued the workers’ union at its Spence copper mine in Chile over two work stoppages in late June and July, seeking approximately US$8.6 million in damages. BHP alleges that the union organised the stoppages outside the collective bargaining period to demand a special bonus of CLP5 million per member beyond existing agreements, significantly disrupting operations. The union declined to comment. The alleged illegality of the stoppages has not been established by a court. According to court filings cited by Chilean media, the stoppages took place on June 30–July 1 and July 7–8. BHP estimates lost copper production at approximately 567 tonnes, comprising 400 tonnes of cathode copper and 167 tonnes of copper contained in concentrate. The lawsuit concerns compensation for past disruptions; no new production interruption at Spence has been reported in connection with the case.
46 mins ago
Spot premiums rose sharply after delivery, and downstream enterprises increased procurement volume as copper prices declined [SMM South China spot copper]
1 hour ago
Spot premiums rose sharply after delivery, and downstream enterprises increased procurement volume as copper prices declined [SMM South China spot copper]
Read More
Spot premiums rose sharply after delivery, and downstream enterprises increased procurement volume as copper prices declined [SMM South China spot copper]
Spot premiums rose sharply after delivery, and downstream enterprises increased procurement volume as copper prices declined [SMM South China spot copper]
1 hour ago
[AI data centers use 20-40 tonnes of copper per MW, adding new demand]
2 hours ago
[AI data centers use 20-40 tonnes of copper per MW, adding new demand]
Read More
[AI data centers use 20-40 tonnes of copper per MW, adding new demand]
[AI data centers use 20-40 tonnes of copper per MW, adding new demand]
Every AI data center requires substantial power, and essentially all of that power moves through copper. Data compiled by MINING indicates that a data center uses roughly 20 to 40 tonnes of copper for each megawatt of power. This copper intensity means the rapid build-out of AI computing clusters and hyperscale facilities is translating directly into additional refined copper consumption. The metal is used in cables, busbars, transformers, switchgear and other power-distribution equipment, making data-center construction a visible source of incremental demand. The article discusses generating monthly income via NYSEARCA:IYM, but its central premise remains the AI-driven copper trade. For the copper supply chain, demand is dispersed across end users, yet per-project volumes are large enough to support refined copper consumption expectations.
2 hours ago
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?Sign in here