Main sea freight index at Baltic Exchange rises further to 978 points

As copper prices continue reaching new all-time highs, markets are revisiting previous commodity supercycle rallies. Analysts said the current surge is being driven not only by AI infrastructure, power-grid expansion, and clean-energy demand, but also by structurally constrained mine supply and tightening global supply chains. Unlike earlier rallies led mainly by Chinese construction demand, this cycle is increasingly tied to energy transition and strategic resource security. Industry participants now see copper evolving from a traditional industrial metal into a critical strategic asset.

On May 18, Dianzhong Nonferrous's ISA furnace started production and began furnace drying, as production resumptions entered a critical period. This annual centralized maintenance covered key areas including in-depth inspection of equipment hazards, replacement of aging parts, commissioning and optimization of production systems, and quality upgrades of infrastructure.