Copper Inventories in China Show Slight Buildup, High Prices Dampen Demand

Published: May 21, 2026 16:32

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【SMM Copper Inventories】 Social inventory of copper cathode in China's major regions saw a slight inventory buildup, with overall fluctuations remaining limited. Regional divergence was evident, with Shanghai inventory steadily destocking while inventories in most other regions edged up, and overall arrivals of supply were relatively low. High copper prices suppressed market purchasing sentiment, downstream trading was sluggish, and end-use demand remained generally weak.

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