Operating rates of copper plate/sheet and strip producers increased 1.8 percentage points MoM in January.
The operating rate for the copper plate/sheet and strip industry in January was 70.01%, up 1.8 percentage points MoM and up 11.67 percentage points YoY. Copper plate/sheet and strip demand improved MoM in January, driven by volatile copper prices influencing end-user procurement pace. In mid-month, copper prices pulled back and stabilized, prompting downstream "fear of rising prices" restocking, while previously suppressed rigid demand orders were released collectively, driving the operating rate higher.