China Refined Copper Output Rises to 623,000 Tonnes in June

SHANGHAI, Jul. 30 (SMM) – China’s refined copper output increased 8,121 tonnes on the month in June to 623,000 tonnes, matching results of the latest SMM survey.

High spot TCs for imported copper concentrate drove a 21.8% rise in H1 copper concentrate imports, allowing copper smelters to keep operating rate high.

In addition, despite an ephemeral decline in the wake of Qingdao’s probe, copper prices increased in June with the average spot price rising above the H1 average, also boosting production enthusiasm at smelters.

The production growth was in line with result of SMM survey.

SMM undertook a survey of copper smelters covering 6.41 tpy in capacity and found that their combined output grew 6,000 tonnes in June to 480,400 tonnes. China produced 3.52 million tonnes of refined copper in H1, up 7.96% from a year ago, a faster growth compared with May.