SMM Analysis: LME Copper Inventory Surges on “Old Tricks”?

Published: Jul 6, 2017 11:15
LME copper inventories increased 40,325 tonnes to 315,925 tonnes on July 5, the peak from late May. Busan and Kaohsiung witnessed the biggest growth, SMM reported.

SHANGHAI, Jul. 6 (SMM) - LME copper inventories increased 40,325 tonnes to 315,925 tonnes on July 5, the peak from late May. Busan and Kaohsiung witnessed the biggest growth, SMM reported.

LME copper inventories had been falling previously as canceled warrants jumped, but actually, the decline in SHFE and LME copper inventories is not driven by consumption, SMM copper analyst said.

The market had anticipated deliveries, and it was just a matter of time. Aggressive deliveries to LME warehouses have been frequent over the past two years, and the resultant influence on copper prices has waned.

Rumor has it recent deliveries were some 60,000 tonnes, which was expected to have been done.

Tongling Nonferrous Metals 3.30 Million-tpy Copper Ore Processing Project Succeeds in Trial Run

Everbright Futures Director Xu Maili believes the surge in LME copper inventories is due to traders’ deliveries. Copper prices will fall in the near term, but such price declines will not be significant.

China Second Largest Nickel Mine Project to Break Ground in Qinghai

SHZQ’s Luoliang said this is the third time of numerous deliveries this year, with the first and second time happening in early March and early May. Based on the destination of deliveries, they must be from one domestic smelter. LME copper prices were weighed with contango expanding. But overall, the impact is not big. Intensive deliveries have been frequent. LME copper inventories are still around 300,000 tonnes. Additional deliveries are expected in the near term except for the unforeseen.

For news cooperation, please contact us by email: sallyzhang@smm.cn or service.en@smm.cn. 

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Zijin Mining to Open Major Lithium Mine in Congo, Set to Be Top Battery Metal Supplier
54 mins ago
Zijin Mining to Open Major Lithium Mine in Congo, Set to Be Top Battery Metal Supplier
Read More
Zijin Mining to Open Major Lithium Mine in Congo, Set to Be Top Battery Metal Supplier
Zijin Mining to Open Major Lithium Mine in Congo, Set to Be Top Battery Metal Supplier
The lithium mine Zijin Mining Group Co. plans to open this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to be one of the world’s biggest suppliers of the battery metal.The Chinese company – which has grown at breakneck speed to become a top producer of copper and gold – has been developing the Manono lithium project in southeastern Congo since it secured the prized deposit in 2023.
54 mins ago
Rio Tinto Targets 2030s Opening for Arizona Copper Mine, May Export Concentrate Due to US Smelting Costs
56 mins ago
Rio Tinto Targets 2030s Opening for Arizona Copper Mine, May Export Concentrate Due to US Smelting Costs
Read More
Rio Tinto Targets 2030s Opening for Arizona Copper Mine, May Export Concentrate Due to US Smelting Costs
Rio Tinto Targets 2030s Opening for Arizona Copper Mine, May Export Concentrate Due to US Smelting Costs
Rio Tinto aims to open Arizona’s Resolution Copper mine by the mid-2030s but may need to export some of its copper concentrate due to the challenging economics of smelting in the US, a senior executive told Reuters on Tuesday.The Anglo-Australian mining giant this month gained control of acreage needed to build one of the world’s largest copper mines after a years-long court fight in which rising US demand for the red metal clashed with the religious rights of the San Carlos Apache people.
56 mins ago
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Mar 25)
1 hour ago
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Mar 25)
Read More
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Mar 25)
Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Mar 25)
The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 25 Mar , 2026
1 hour ago
SMM Analysis: LME Copper Inventory Surges on “Old Tricks”? - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)