News

Exclusive analysis article with latest market updates, and in-time news feeds.

[Market Insight]: US–China Copper Scrap Trade Faces Structural Shift Amid Potential Export Restrictions
The global copper scrap market is entering a period of structural tightening as geopolitical tensions and industrial policy increasingly reshape trade flows. The relationship between the United States and China sits at the center of this transition, particularly as Washington considers restricting exports of high-quality copper scrap in 2027 while China remains heavily dependent on imported secondary copper feedstock. China’s copper scrap imports remained strong in 2024 at 441,080 MT, underscoring continued demand from secondary refiners serving the EV, renewable energy, power grid, and manufacturing sectors. However, imports have collapsed in 2025 to 143,271 MT, with current projections for 2026 falling further to just 5,305 MT. The sharp decline signals a rapid deterioration in China’s direct access to imported scrap feedstock amid rising geopolitical friction and tariffs. China’s existing 10% tariff on US-origin scrap has already reduced the competitiveness of direct shipments, although clean high-grade material has continued to move because of favorable processing economics. Trade flows indicate that copper scrap is increasingly being rerouted through Southeast Asia rather than moving directly from the United States into China. US copper scrap exports to ASEAN rose from 170,687 tonnes in 2024 to 222,993 tonnes in 2025, while Chinese imports of copper scrap from ASEAN increased from 434,176 tonnes to 529,345 tonnes over the same period. The correlation strongly suggests ASEAN is emerging as a critical intermediary hub for scrap aggregation, processing, blending, and re-export into China. This shift reflects a broader restructuring of the global scrap trade as market participants adapt to tariffs, geopolitical risk, and the growing probability of tighter controls on high-quality US scrap exports. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are increasingly functioning as alternative routing channels within the global secondary copper supply chain. The timing is significant because the United States continues to export around 1 million tonnes of copper scrap globally in 2025 while domestic secondary refinery production remains limited at approximately 50kt. This imbalance is becoming central to the policy debate in Washington. As US demand for copper accelerates through grid modernization, electrification, AI-driven data center expansion, and defense manufacturing, policymakers are increasingly questioning whether high-grade recyclable copper should continue flowing overseas while the US remains dependent on imported refined copper. Current policy discussions focus on retaining a larger share of premium copper scrap within the domestic market beginning as early as 2027. Although proposals currently stop short of a full export ban, any retention mechanism would still materially reduce export availability for high-quality grades such as bare bright copper and No.1 copper scrap. For China, tighter access to premium scrap has important implications beyond the secondary market. High-quality scrap directly competes with refined copper cathode because it offers high recovery rates with lower processing intensity than primary smelting. If imported scrap availability continues to tighten, Chinese refiners will likely need to increase refined copper purchases to maintain output levels. This dynamic could become increasingly supportive for refined copper markets globally. The primary copper market is already facing structural constraints from weak mine supply growth, declining ore grades, permitting delays, and years of underinvestment in new projects. A simultaneous tightening in high-grade scrap availability would amplify pressure on refined copper balances precisely as demand linked to electrification continues to strengthen. As a result, the market could see narrower scrap discounts relative to cathode, firmer copper premiums in Asia, and increased volatility across both COMEX and LME pricing. The secondary copper market is therefore becoming an increasingly important variable in the broader refined copper outlook. Ultimately, the copper scrap market is no longer operating purely on economic arbitrage. Strategic resource security is becoming a defining driver of trade flows and policy decisions. The rapid growth in ASEAN intermediary trade, combined with collapsing direct Chinese scrap imports and growing US policy intervention, signals that the global copper supply chain is entering a new phase of fragmentation — one that is likely to tighten both scrap and refined copper markets into 2026 and beyond. Author: Shairaz Ahmed, Principal Market Analyst For more information or to discuss market dynamics, you can contact me on shairazahmed@smm.cn
May 26, 2026 17:23
[Market Insight]: US–China Copper Scrap Trade Faces Structural Shift Amid Potential Export Restrictions
Silver: Why the $100 mark is both within reach and dangerous
Silver: Why the $100 mark is both within reach and dangerous
May 28, 2026 Silber-Anleger erleben derzeit ein zähes Ringen: Kurzfristig fehlt dem Markt unterhalb der Marke von 75 US-Dollar jSilver investors are currently facing a tough struggle: In the short term, the market lacks the necessary momentum below the $75-per-ounce mark. Yet explosive momentum is building in the background. While Bank of America (BofA) believes another jump to the three-digit $100 mark is possible before the end of the year, the analyst team also warns against premature optimism. Such a price surge is unlikely to signal a lasting trend reversal. Rather, according to the analysts, the silver market is facing a profound fundamental shift in which the industrial base is increasingly crumbling. The balancing act between precious metal fantasy and industrial reality Bank of America’s latest precious metals analysis paints a picture of a divided market. In the short term, silver has the potential to break through the $100-per-ounce mark in the wake of a sustained gold rally. However, this speculative high is unlikely to last: Analysts are already forecasting a return of the price to a level of around $75 as early as the second quarter of 2027. Currently, the gold-silver ratio of 59.43 points reflects this indecision. It remains in the middle of its months-long consolidation range—an indicator of a market that is sensitively oscillating between short-term speculation and a fundamental revaluation. Although the silver market is heading toward its sixth consecutive year of deficit, the sustainability of this supply shortage is under massive threat in the medium term. Solar Industry in Austerity Mode: The Key Demand Pillar Wavers The strongest headwind for the silver price is emerging, of all places, in its former flagship segment—photovoltaics. Faced with historically high silver prices, solar module manufacturers are responding with drastic efficiency measures. Under sustained margin pressure, they are systematically reducing the silver content in the cells or switching to cheaper substitute metals. According to BofA analysts, silver demand from the solar sector already reached its historic peak last year. This trend is exacerbated by stagnating solar production in China and the prospect of declining new installations in the current year. Since demand growth in other industrial sectors is too weak to close the gap left by the solar industry, the silver market faces a fundamental easing of supply-demand dynamics: as early as 2026, the deficit could shrink by a massive 90%. Should industrial demand continue to weaken, even moderate sales by financial investors would be enough to push the market into a physical surplus. Investors as the Deciding Factor In this changed environment, silver is likely to be perceived and traded more as a classic precious metal rather than an industrial metal in the future. Investor demand thus becomes the decisive price factor. This carries risks, as precious metals have recently suffered from the restrictive interest rate policy and expectations of further rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Rising yields increase the opportunity costs for non-interest-bearing investments and weigh equally on both gold and silver. Nevertheless, silver remains a strategic element of the global energy transition. An abrupt slump in solar demand is not expected. Demand is further fueled by geopolitical conflicts such as the war in Iran, which continues to drive the global push for green energy and alternatives to fossil fuels. Geopolitics and Trade Barriers as Price Drivers Just how volatile the physical market can be was already evident at the start of the year, when the silver price briefly shot up to $120 per ounce amid fierce competition for physical metal. A major source of uncertainty remains the upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Since Mexico and Canada are the main suppliers to the U.S. market, significant trade risks loom. Concerns about potential tariffs have already prompted banks and market participants to massively increase their holdings within the U.S. This domestic hoarding is draining important liquidity from the global market. According to BofA, this physical withdrawal is the main reason silver has recently managed to climb back above the $80 mark—even though physically backed ETFs are continuously recording outflows and the latest CFTC data signal rather subdued interest in new net long positions in the futures markets. Conclusion: In the short term, silver retains the potential for a breakout toward the $100 mark. However, the foundation for this rise is becoming more fragile. Investors betting on silver should keep an eye on the weakening industrial data, which could set tight time limits on the rally. Source: https://goldinvest.de/en/silver-why-the-usd100-mark-is-both-within-reach-and-dangerous
23 hours ago
Solid-State Battery Monthly (May 2026): Semi-Solid EVs Launch, All-Solid Targets  $0.15/Wh
​​​​​​​Industrialization accelerated sharply in May: SAIC MG 4X launched with a semi-solid battery (53.9kWh, 510km range). Gotion Hi-Tech unveiled its “Jinshi” all-solid-state battery (400Wh/kg) aiming for 1 yuan/Wh cost by 2030. Qingtao Energy’s 5-billion-yuan, 20GWh project advanced. MIIT started solid-state battery standards.
May 30, 2026 21:06
[SMM Analysis] Tata Steel’s Two-Speed Transformation: Record India Earnings Confront Europe’s Green Steel Challenge
Tata Steel’s latest performance shows a company moving from a traditional volume-based steel business toward a more margin-focused and transformation-driven model. It is driving growth and profitability, financial performance is recovering through better margins and cost control, while the company’s key business activities are increasingly focused on downstream expansion, raw material security and low-carbon steelmaking.
May 29, 2026 16:20

Latest News

Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Jun 01)
The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 01 Jun , 2026
22 hours ago
SMM Zinc Ingot Inventory Down 400mt from May 25, Up 3,700mt from May 28 Across Seven Regions
[SMM News Flash]Based on SMM's communications, as of Monday (June 1), SMM's total zinc ingot inventory across seven regions stood at 264,600 mt, down 400 mt from May 25 but up 3,700 mt from May 28, with China's inventory increasing.
Jun 1, 2026 11:23
Driven by LME, SHFE Zinc Opened Lower with a Gap [SMM Zinc Morning Comment]
[SMM Zinc Morning Comment] Overnight, the most-traded SHFE zinc 2607 contract opened lower with a gap at 24,880 yuan/mt. At the beginning of the session, SHFE zinc briefly touched a high of 24,885 yuan/mt before bulls reduced their open interest, sending prices rapidly lower. Near the end of the session, it dipped to a low of 24,630 yuan/mt, ultimately closing down at 24,665 yuan/mt, a decline of 300 yuan/mt or 1.20%. Trading volume fell to 67,517 lots, and open interest decreased slightly by 128 lots to 109,000 lots.
Jun 1, 2026 08:52
Inventories Outside China Increased, LME Zinc Recorded a Small Bearish Candlestick [SMM Morning Meeting Summary]
[SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Inventories Outside China Increase, LME Zinc Posts a Small Bearish Candlestick] Overnight, LME zinc opened at $3,556.5/mt. Early in the session, LME zinc fluctuated upward to a high of $3,585/mt. As European trading hours began, bears increased their open interest and prices pulled back continuously from the highs. Near the end of the session, it dipped to a low of $3,531.5/mt, ultimately closing lower at $3,543.5/mt, down $15.25/mt, a decline of 0.43%. Trading volume increased to 108,000 lots, and open interest increased by 2,300 lots to 230,000 lots.
Jun 1, 2026 08:48
Zinc calcine processing fees edged down in May—how will they trend in June?[SMM Analysis]
Zinc calcine processing fees edged down in May—how will they trend in June?
May 29, 2026 17:45
East China Zinc Market Sees High Inventory, Weak Consumption Amid Price Fluctuations
[East China refined zinc market] According to SMM, zinc ingot inventory in east China remained elevated, with ample overall supply in the market. However, downstream zinc consumption was gradually weakening. Coupled with zinc futures prices fluctuating at highs during the week, spot zinc ingot transactions in the market performed poorly.
May 29, 2026 16:47
Zinc Concentrates Market Sees Declining Prices, Low Trading Activity for Imports
[Imported zinc concentrates market] According to SMM, this week few ore traders made offers in the market, and prices continued to decline. Meanwhile, smelters still prioritized purchasing domestic zinc concentrates due to the low import-to-domestic price ratio, and trading activity in the imported ore market was generally subdued during the week.
May 29, 2026 16:46
Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Production Slows as End-Use Demand Dips, Operating Rate Down to 51.88%
[SMM Express] Affected by the recent slowdown in end-use demand and the slowing down of production pace at some die-casting zinc alloy enterprises, the operating rate of die-casting zinc alloy enterprises was recorded at 51.88% this week, down 0.26 percentage points WoW.
May 29, 2026 16:16
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (May 29)
The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 29 May , 2026
May 29, 2026 15:53
Tight Ore Supply Situation Remained Unchanged, Domestic and Imported Zinc Concentrate TCs Continued to Decline [SMM Zinc Concentrates Weekly Review]
[Ore Supply Tightness Remains Unchanged, Domestic and Imported Zinc Concentrate TCs Continue to Decline]: Based on weekly data, the SMM Zn50 domestic weekly average TC fell 250 yuan/mt Zn WoW to 150 yuan/mt Zn, and the SMM imported zinc concentrates index dropped $7.19/dmt WoW to -$63.44/dmt.
May 29, 2026 15:45
Zinc Futures Prices Fluctuated at Highs During the Week, Spot Trades Were Moderate [SMM Shanghai Spot Weekly Review]
[SHFE Zinc Prices Fluctuated at Highs, Spot Trades Were Moderate]: Shanghai spot premiums fluctuated this week, with the weekly average price up 5 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, ordinary domestic brands were quoted at a discount of 80-50 yuan/mt against the 2607 contract, while the premium brand Shuangyan was quoted at a premium of 130 yuan/mt against the 2607 contract.
May 29, 2026 15:44
Weak Downstream Consumption in Off-Season, Spot Premiums Slightly Weakened During the Week [SMM Ningbo Spot Weekly Review]
[Weak Downstream Consumption in Off-Season, Spot Premiums Edged Down During the Week]: Spot premiums in Ningbo edged down this week, with the weekly average price declining 15 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, spot prices against the 2607 contract were quoted at a discount of 50 yuan/mt, with a premium of 30 yuan/mt against the Shanghai premium. The premium against the Shanghai premium maintained a fluctuating trend during the week.
May 29, 2026 15:37
SHFE/LME Zinc Price Ratio Continued to Fluctuate Around 6.9 [SMM Zinc SHFE/LME Price Ratio Weekly Review]
[SHFE/LME zinc price ratio continued to fluctuate around 6.9]: This week, the SHFE/LME zinc price ratio fluctuated around 6.9, and the zinc ingot import window remained closed. Outside China, on the macro front, geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East showed signs of easing, expectations of monetary tightening strengthened against the backdrop of rising inflation, and with ex-China zinc inventory persistently low, LME zinc fluctuated at highs.
May 29, 2026 15:25
Tianjin Zinc Ingot Premium Slightly Increased [SMM Tianjin Spot Zinc Weekly Review]
[Tianjin Zinc Ingot Premiums Edged Up]: Spot premiums in the Tianjin area rose this week, edging up 5 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, domestic regular brands were quoted at a discount of 50-80 yuan/mt against the 2606 contract, premium brands at a discount of 0-30 yuan/mt against the 2606 contract, and Tianjin at a discount of around 90 yuan/mt against Shanghai.
May 29, 2026 15:24
[Market Insight]: US–China Copper Scrap Trade Faces Structural Shift Amid Potential Export Restrictions
[Market Insight]: US–China Copper Scrap Trade Faces Structural Shift Amid Potential Export Restrictions
The global copper scrap market is entering a period of structural tightening as geopolitical tensions and industrial policy increasingly reshape trade flows. The relationship between the United States and China sits at the center of this transition, particularly as Washington considers restricting exports of high-quality copper scrap in 2027 while China remains heavily dependent on imported secondary copper feedstock. China’s copper scrap imports remained strong in 2024 at 441,080 MT, underscoring continued demand from secondary refiners serving the EV, renewable energy, power grid, and manufacturing sectors. However, imports have collapsed in 2025 to 143,271 MT, with current projections for 2026 falling further to just 5,305 MT. The sharp decline signals a rapid deterioration in China’s direct access to imported scrap feedstock amid rising geopolitical friction and tariffs. China’s existing 10% tariff on US-origin scrap has already reduced the competitiveness of direct shipments, although clean high-grade material has continued to move because of favorable processing economics. Trade flows indicate that copper scrap is increasingly being rerouted through Southeast Asia rather than moving directly from the United States into China. US copper scrap exports to ASEAN rose from 170,687 tonnes in 2024 to 222,993 tonnes in 2025, while Chinese imports of copper scrap from ASEAN increased from 434,176 tonnes to 529,345 tonnes over the same period. The correlation strongly suggests ASEAN is emerging as a critical intermediary hub for scrap aggregation, processing, blending, and re-export into China. This shift reflects a broader restructuring of the global scrap trade as market participants adapt to tariffs, geopolitical risk, and the growing probability of tighter controls on high-quality US scrap exports. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are increasingly functioning as alternative routing channels within the global secondary copper supply chain. The timing is significant because the United States continues to export around 1 million tonnes of copper scrap globally in 2025 while domestic secondary refinery production remains limited at approximately 50kt. This imbalance is becoming central to the policy debate in Washington. As US demand for copper accelerates through grid modernization, electrification, AI-driven data center expansion, and defense manufacturing, policymakers are increasingly questioning whether high-grade recyclable copper should continue flowing overseas while the US remains dependent on imported refined copper. Current policy discussions focus on retaining a larger share of premium copper scrap within the domestic market beginning as early as 2027. Although proposals currently stop short of a full export ban, any retention mechanism would still materially reduce export availability for high-quality grades such as bare bright copper and No.1 copper scrap. For China, tighter access to premium scrap has important implications beyond the secondary market. High-quality scrap directly competes with refined copper cathode because it offers high recovery rates with lower processing intensity than primary smelting. If imported scrap availability continues to tighten, Chinese refiners will likely need to increase refined copper purchases to maintain output levels. This dynamic could become increasingly supportive for refined copper markets globally. The primary copper market is already facing structural constraints from weak mine supply growth, declining ore grades, permitting delays, and years of underinvestment in new projects. A simultaneous tightening in high-grade scrap availability would amplify pressure on refined copper balances precisely as demand linked to electrification continues to strengthen. As a result, the market could see narrower scrap discounts relative to cathode, firmer copper premiums in Asia, and increased volatility across both COMEX and LME pricing. The secondary copper market is therefore becoming an increasingly important variable in the broader refined copper outlook. Ultimately, the copper scrap market is no longer operating purely on economic arbitrage. Strategic resource security is becoming a defining driver of trade flows and policy decisions. The rapid growth in ASEAN intermediary trade, combined with collapsing direct Chinese scrap imports and growing US policy intervention, signals that the global copper supply chain is entering a new phase of fragmentation — one that is likely to tighten both scrap and refined copper markets into 2026 and beyond. Author: Shairaz Ahmed, Principal Market Analyst For more information or to discuss market dynamics, you can contact me on shairazahmed@smm.cn
May 26, 2026 17:23
Chinese firms dominate Guinea alumina expansion, potentially shifting the country from bauxite exporter into alumina hub
Chinese firms dominate Guinea alumina expansion, potentially shifting the country from bauxite exporter into alumina hub
May 27, 2026 13:10
[SMM Analysis] Q1 2026 Global ESS Shipments: Competitive Landscape Undergoes Fundamental Shifts
[SMM Analysis] Q1 2026 Global ESS Shipments: Competitive Landscape Undergoes Fundamental Shifts
May 27, 2026 10:44
EU Restricts High-Risk Inverters! New Hurdles for Chinese Firms in European Solar Market!?[SMM Analysis]
EU Restricts High-Risk Inverters! New Hurdles for Chinese Firms in European Solar Market!?[SMM Analysis]
May 24, 2026 17:52
Silver: Why the $100 mark is both within reach and dangerous
Silver: Why the $100 mark is both within reach and dangerous
23 hours ago
Solid-State Battery Monthly (May 2026): Semi-Solid EVs Launch, All-Solid Targets  $0.15/Wh
Solid-State Battery Monthly (May 2026): Semi-Solid EVs Launch, All-Solid Targets  $0.15/Wh
May 30, 2026 21:06
[SMM Analysis] Tata Steel’s Two-Speed Transformation: Record India Earnings Confront Europe’s Green Steel Challenge
[SMM Analysis] Tata Steel’s Two-Speed Transformation: Record India Earnings Confront Europe’s Green Steel Challenge
May 29, 2026 16:20
Latest News
Market Sentiment Mixed, SHFE Zinc Hovers at Highs [SMM Zinc Morning Comment]
5 hours ago
LME Zinc Recorded a Bullish Candlestick, Attention on Macro Changes [SMM Morning Meeting Minutes]
5 hours ago
Nexa’s Cajamarquilla Zinc Smelter Gradually Resumes Operations, Q2 Refined Zinc Output Impact Estimated at 7,000 mt
20 hours ago
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Jun 01)
22 hours ago
SMM Zinc Ingot Inventory Down 400mt from May 25, Up 3,700mt from May 28 Across Seven Regions
Jun 1, 2026 11:23
Driven by LME, SHFE Zinc Opened Lower with a Gap [SMM Zinc Morning Comment]
Jun 1, 2026 08:52
Inventories Outside China Increased, LME Zinc Recorded a Small Bearish Candlestick [SMM Morning Meeting Summary]
Jun 1, 2026 08:48
Zinc calcine processing fees edged down in May—how will they trend in June?[SMM Analysis]
May 29, 2026 17:45
East China Zinc Market Sees High Inventory, Weak Consumption Amid Price Fluctuations
May 29, 2026 16:47
Zinc Concentrates Market Sees Declining Prices, Low Trading Activity for Imports
May 29, 2026 16:46
Domestic Zinc Concentrates TCs Decline as Supply Tightness Persists
May 29, 2026 16:46
Guangdong Zinc Premiums Rise, Price Spread with Shanghai Widens
May 29, 2026 16:24
Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Producers' Operating Rate to Drop Further Amid Weak Demand
May 29, 2026 16:19
Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Production Slows as End-Use Demand Dips, Operating Rate Down to 51.88%
May 29, 2026 16:16
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (May 29)
May 29, 2026 15:53
Tight Ore Supply Situation Remained Unchanged, Domestic and Imported Zinc Concentrate TCs Continued to Decline [SMM Zinc Concentrates Weekly Review]
May 29, 2026 15:45
Zinc Futures Prices Fluctuated at Highs During the Week, Spot Trades Were Moderate [SMM Shanghai Spot Weekly Review]
May 29, 2026 15:44
Weak Downstream Consumption in Off-Season, Spot Premiums Slightly Weakened During the Week [SMM Ningbo Spot Weekly Review]
May 29, 2026 15:37
SHFE/LME Zinc Price Ratio Continued to Fluctuate Around 6.9 [SMM Zinc SHFE/LME Price Ratio Weekly Review]
May 29, 2026 15:25
Tianjin Zinc Ingot Premium Slightly Increased [SMM Tianjin Spot Zinc Weekly Review]
May 29, 2026 15:24