Which Sector Will Become Main Copper Consumer in China in 2016?

Published: Mar 23, 2016 15:21 (GMT+8)

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The traditional peak demand period for copper is around the corner, and what’s the outlook for copper consumption in 2016? And which sector will become the outperformer in 2016?

SHANGHAI, Mar. 23 (SMM) – The traditional peak demand period for copper is around the corner, and what’s the outlook for copper consumption in 2016? And which sector will become the outperformer in 2016?

“Copper consumption in China is expected to grow by 2.5%-3% in 2016, basically flat with a 2.7% increase in 2015,” SMM copper analyst predicted at 2016 SMM Copper&Aluminum Summit from Mar. 17-18.

Power, real estate, home appliance, and transportation sectors are major copper consumers in China, and what’s the outlook for copper consumption in each of them?

“The picture from real estate and home appliance, especially air-conditioner, is gloomy in 2016,” SMM analyst added, expecting copper consumption growth from the real estate industry to be less than 1 percent, and even head into negative territory from home appliance in 2016.

In the power sector, a double-digit growth of completed investment both in power grid and sources in 2015 gives market an expectation for copper consumption from the sector, the analyst said at the Summit in Shanghai.

However, the transportation sector will catch market attention in 2016. Metro and railway construction in particular will boost copper consumption from the sector, the analyst estimated.

Collections of Base Metal Stories at 2016 SMM Summit

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