Uncertainty Over US-Iran Negotiations Ferments, Intraday Copper Prices Under Pressure [SMM BC Copper Commentary]

Published: May 28, 2026 16:22

Today, the most-traded BC copper 2607 contract opened at 92,820 yuan/mt, touched a high of 92,890 yuan/mt at the beginning of the session before the copper price center fluctuated downward, dipping to 91,820 yuan/mt before fluctuating upward, and finally closed at 92,350 yuan/mt, down 0.68%. Open interest stood at 9,731 lots, an increase of 769 lots from the previous trading day, and trading volume reached 7,680 lots, an increase of 2,184 lots from the previous trading day. On the macro front, the US Fed hinted at maintaining stable interest rates, with the future policy path depending on inflation and employment data. Geopolitically, the US-Iran agreement reached an impasse, with Trump refusing to make concessions and threatening to monitor the Strait of Hormuz. Combined with a drone attack on Israel and South Korea summoning the Iranian ambassador over a ship attack, negotiation uncertainties continued to ferment, and copper prices fluctuated downward. Fundamentals side, supply side, domestic source arrivals rebounded slightly, while import arrivals remained tight. Demand side, as copper prices pulled back in stages, downstream stocking willingness improved, and market demand gradually recovered. Inventory side, as of Thursday, May 28, SMM copper inventories in mainstream regions nationwide increased by 1,000 mt WoW from Thursday to 245,200 mt, with total inventories up 106,500 mt compared to the same period last year at 139,900 mt.

SHFE copper 2607 contract closed at 104,150 yuan/mt. Calculated based on the BC copper 2606 contract at 92,350 yuan/mt, its after-tax price was 104,356 yuan/mt. The price spread between SHFE copper 2607 contract and BC copper was -206 yuan/mt, showing an inversion that widened from the previous 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 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
Sinomine Resource Group Signed Cooperation Agreement with Peru's Jinda Mining for La Joya Copper Mine
3 hours ago
Sinomine Resource Group Signed Cooperation Agreement with Peru's Jinda Mining for La Joya Copper Mine
Read More
Sinomine Resource Group Signed Cooperation Agreement with Peru's Jinda Mining for La Joya Copper Mine
Sinomine Resource Group Signed Cooperation Agreement with Peru's Jinda Mining for La Joya Copper Mine
On May 20, Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd. and Peru Kingda Mining Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement at Sinomine Resource Group's headquarters on the La Haya copper mine project. Under the agreement, Peru Kingda Mining will re-register the mining rights of the La Haya copper mine located in Peru under a joint venture jointly established by both parties and controlled by Sinomine Resource Group. Sinomine Resource Group will provide funding, technology, and industry chain resource support to jointly advance the development of this copper ore resource. In the initial phase, the project will carry out Phase I exploration work, with drilling advancing simultaneously.
3 hours ago
Tongguan Kuangjian Won the Bid for the Cuia-Mavoio Copper Mine Project in Angola, with a Bid Amount of Approximately $230 Million
3 hours ago
Tongguan Kuangjian Won the Bid for the Cuia-Mavoio Copper Mine Project in Angola, with a Bid Amount of Approximately $230 Million
Read More
Tongguan Kuangjian Won the Bid for the Cuia-Mavoio Copper Mine Project in Angola, with a Bid Amount of Approximately $230 Million
Tongguan Kuangjian Won the Bid for the Cuia-Mavoio Copper Mine Project in Angola, with a Bid Amount of Approximately $230 Million
Tongguan Mine Construction announced that it recently received a bid-winning notification from Xingyao Icarus Limited, winning the bid for the mine construction and mining engineering of the Cuia-Mavoio copper mine in Uíge Province, Angola, with a contract value of approximately $230 million. The infrastructure construction period is 18 months, and the production period is 60 months. Regarding the project background, the Cuia-Mavoio copper mine is located in Uíge Province, Angola, approximately 300 kilometers from Luanda, and includes both open-pit and underground mining. According to information previously released by Angola's Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, the project has a total investment of $250 million, with $205 million in committed funding already secured, covering two exploration license areas (approximately 3,000 square kilometers and 7,000 square kilometers, respectively). Exploration began in 2010, with the first production phase targeting open-pit ore processing of 2,500 mt per day and a total mining capacity of 4,000 mt/day; the underground mine plans to commence in H2 2026.
3 hours ago
Chilean Court Revoked $3.2 Billion Project Permit for Collahuasi Copper Mine
3 hours ago
Chilean Court Revoked $3.2 Billion Project Permit for Collahuasi Copper Mine
Read More
Chilean Court Revoked $3.2 Billion Project Permit for Collahuasi Copper Mine
Chilean Court Revoked $3.2 Billion Project Permit for Collahuasi Copper Mine
Chile's Second Environmental Court recently revoked the environmental permit for the "Infrastructure and Capacity Enhancement" project at Collahuasi, one of the world's largest copper mines. The project planned to invest over $3.2 billion, with the core objective of building a seawater desalination plant to extend the mine's lifespan. The court ruled that the mining company had failed to adequately consult with affected indigenous communities and that the assessment of environmental impacts on the marine environment was insufficient. The mining company stated that existing water sources could support short-term production and would not immediately affect production.
3 hours ago
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?sign in here