Pre-Holiday Market Trading Sluggish, but Spot Prices Remained Firm [SMM South China Spot Copper]

Published: Apr 30, 2026 11:37

SMM April 30:

Guangdong #1 copper cathode spot prices against the front-month contract: high-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 320 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper at a premium of 240 yuan/mt, unchanged; SX-EW copper at a premium of 180 yuan/mt, unchanged. The average price of Guangdong #1 copper cathode was 101,575 yuan/mt, up slightly by 35 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, while the average price of SX-EW copper was 101,475 yuan/mt, up 35 yuan/mt.

Spot market: Guangdong inventory saw a significant decline today, as end-users carried out final restocking ahead of the holiday. On the last day before the holiday, market trading was quiet, and spot quotes remained at the previous day's level. Particularly on the trading side, affected by invoice-related issues, most participants adopted a wait-and-see stance, planning to resume trading after the Labour Day holiday. Guangdong copper cathode procurement sentiment was 2.2, down 0.02 from the previous trading day, while shipments sentiment was 3.45, down 0.15 (historical data available via the SMM database).

Overall, market trading was sluggish ahead of the holiday, but spot quotes remained firm. Attention should be paid to inventory buildup during the Labour Day holiday.

         

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 to learn 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
Copper Cathode Rod Operating Rates Fall Short of Expectations in China Amid Low Demand
30 mins ago
Copper Cathode Rod Operating Rates Fall Short of Expectations in China Amid Low Demand
Read More
Copper Cathode Rod Operating Rates Fall Short of Expectations in China Amid Low Demand
Copper Cathode Rod Operating Rates Fall Short of Expectations in China Amid Low Demand
【SMM Copper Cathode Rod News Flash】Operating rates of copper cathode rod enterprises in China pulled back slightly WoW this week, falling short of market expectations. Pre-holiday terminal stockpiling was sluggish overall, with low purchase willingness in the enamelled wire and cable sectors. Enterprises struggled to secure new orders, highlighting the pressure on the demand side of the industry.
30 mins ago
Copper Cathode Rod Market Sees Sluggish Demand, Awaits Price Guidance Amid Off-Season
33 mins ago
Copper Cathode Rod Market Sees Sluggish Demand, Awaits Price Guidance Amid Off-Season
Read More
Copper Cathode Rod Market Sees Sluggish Demand, Awaits Price Guidance Amid Off-Season
Copper Cathode Rod Market Sees Sluggish Demand, Awaits Price Guidance Amid Off-Season
【SMM Copper Cathode Rod News Flash】Currently, terminal orders for copper cathode rod lacked follow-through, downstream stocking atmosphere was sluggish, and the phased demand driven by earlier copper price pullbacks faded. Post-holiday, the market will enter the traditional consumption off-season, with no incremental demand release from end-users for now. Wait-and-see sentiment in the industry is intensifying, and subsequent market trends will be highly dependent on copper price guidance.
33 mins ago
Copper Cathode Rod Firms See Lower Operating Rates, Longer Holidays in 2026 Labour Day Period
38 mins ago
Copper Cathode Rod Firms See Lower Operating Rates, Longer Holidays in 2026 Labour Day Period
Read More
Copper Cathode Rod Firms See Lower Operating Rates, Longer Holidays in 2026 Labour Day Period
Copper Cathode Rod Firms See Lower Operating Rates, Longer Holidays in 2026 Labour Day Period
【SMM Copper Cathode Rod News Flash】During the 2026 Labour Day holiday, the average holiday duration of copper cathode rod enterprises was up 0.16 days YoY to 1.33 days. Operating rates both before and during the holiday were significantly lower than in 2025, with the average operating rate for the two weeks around the holiday expected to decline 8.72 percentage points YoY, as more enterprises suspended or cut production.
38 mins ago
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?sign in here