Resumption of production in Yunnan and Sichuan accounted for the rally in April’s operating rates. Silicon plants in Nujiang of Yunnan and Ngawa and Leshan of Sichuan reopened part of their capacity ahead of the arrival of rainy session, and this offset some capacity curtailment in Xinjiang and Chongqing due to losses and tight ore supply. 

Sellers of spot copper cathode cut offers on the morning of Friday May 8 as they were keen to cash in while a further rally in copper futures sidelined downstream consumers. 

Stringent coronavirus containment measures imposed by world authorities in March began to take their toll on supply of imported copper scrap in China, which accounts for about 60% of copper scrap consumption in the country, showed the latest SMM survey.

Last month, the capacity in operation reduced in Xinjiang, Sichuan and Shaanxi. Continued raw materials shortage kept major silicon plants in Xinjiang from resuming the capacity that has been shut down since February. Meanwhile, falling silicon prices prompted some medium-scale producers to cut output or undergo maintenance in the second half of March. 

Demand remained subdued in China’s cobalt market last week while a handful of consumers purchased as required. The market may find some near-term support from the extended national lockdown of South Africa, which will last until end April and aim to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The state-owned China Southern Power Grid company has planned to accelerate its investment in new energy vehicle charging facilities in the coming years, as part of the move to develop "new infrastructure" projects for boosting sustainable growth of the economy. 

The work resumption rate for businesses in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicentre of the COVID-19 in China, has increased to 85.4%, with the resumption rate for workers reaching 40.4%, said local authorities on Wednesday April 1. 

Trades of spot copper in Shanghai moderated from the previous day on the morning of Wednesday April 1 as downstream consumers and traders hesitated over the elevated premiums and futures prices and slowed purchases.

This is in response to the central government’s call to build "new infrastructure" projects to counter the economic fallout due to the coronavirus and boost the country's economy in the long term. New infrastructure, different from traditional infrastructure construction such as railways, roads, and airports, can be understood as new public facilities serving the needs of new industrialisation. 

While a handful of exploration companies in Africa are still looking to get a foot in the door, the tin (Sn) processing plant at Alphamin Resources’ (TSXV:AFM) (JSE: APH) Bisie mine is close to running at full tilt.