SHANGHAI, Oct. 31 (SMM) –SMM's latest survey revealed that the average operating rate at low-oxygen copper rod producers was 41.5% in October, virtually flat with the previous month. These producers told SMM that busy consumption period during September-October did not result in noticeable improvements in orders. However, as copper prices kept fluctuating at the highs, the price differential between scrap and refined copper maintained above RMB 1,100/mt, turning some oxygen-free copper rod orders to low-oxygen copper rod orders. This helped the average operating rate remain at 41.5% in October.