The backwardation of the SHFE front-month copper contract over the SHFE next-month copper contract expanded from 200 yuan/mt to 300 yuan/mt before the delivery of the June contract. This pushed down spot premiums from 310 yuan/mt at the beginning of the week to 165 yuan/mt.
Spot premiums exceeded 500 yuan/mt after being quoted against the July contract. Higher copper prices and spot premiums kept downstream buyers on the sidelines. Traders also refrained from buying with spot premiums of 500 yuan/mt.
Spot trades weakened. Selling spot cargoes with premiums were more attractive than deliveries with prices flat at the front-month contract, reducing warrants in Shanghai. The strong LME copper prices have brought about export opportunities, but the recent low inventories at smelters will prevent large volumes of exports. SMM data shows that copper inventories in Shanghai fell 5,500 mt last week. Tight spot supply will bolster spot premiums this week.



