Base Metals Fall after China Data, with SHFE Nickel Plunging 4.3%, SMM Reports

Taiwan copper-clad laminate (CCL) maker Ventec International Group (6672.TW) approved on September 17 a NT$1.5 billion (approximately US$47.3 million) expansion budget to lease and upgrade an idle factory in Kunshan, Jiangsu, deploying two automated lines targeting monthly capacity of 500,000 CCL sheets and 2.4 million meters of prepreg. The 20,000 square meter site sits next to the company's existing operations and benefits from existing environmental permits, allowing mass production roughly one year earlier than a greenfield project. Planned spending is about RMB 41.76 million for building upgrades and RMB 246 million for machinery and equipment. The product mix covers M6 high-speed materials ramping up, with M7/M8/M9 grades under qualification with international server and optical-module customers. Ventec reported record August consolidated revenue of NT$810 million, up 133.2% year on year, with the first eight months up 53.6%. The Kunshan plant will complement the company's Thailand facility and serve AI servers, high-speed switches, optical modules and automotive electronics, lifting demand for upstream copper foil and electrolytic copper foil.

Pekan ini (14-17 September), pasar skrap tembaga mengalami penyesuaian tajam setelah harga tembaga mundur signifikan dari level tertinggi pekan lalu di atas 112.000 yuan/mt, menyentuh titik terendah 108.370 yuan/mt pada akhir pekan. Kontrak tembaga SHFE yang paling aktif diperdagangkan terus merosot dari 108.240 yuan/mt pada awal pekan ke level terendah intra-pekan 107.320 yuan/mt.

Data NBS menunjukkan produksi asam sulfat (setara 100%) Tiongkok pada Agustus sebesar 7,984 juta ton, turun 308.000 ton dari 7,676 juta ton pada Juli, turun 15,5% YoY. Produksi kumulatif asam sulfat (setara 100%) pada 2026 sebesar 68,141 juta ton, turun 4,6% YoY secara kumulatif.