[SMM Analysis] Why Guangdong Electric Copper inventory continues to hit a new low

Published: May 29, 2020 16:33 (GMT+8)

SMM5 March 29: at the end of May and the beginning of June, the weather in Guangdong changed, sometimes sunny and sometimes torrential rain, which is puzzling. The inventory of electrolytic copper in Guangdong so far this year is as difficult to understand as the recent weather. According to the latest statistics of our SMM, as of May 29th, the inventory of electrolytic copper in Guangdong was only 22362 tons, a new low for the year, a sharp drop of 96990 tons, or 81.26%, compared with the high of 119300 tons on March 4th. Detailed data is shown in the following figure:

Why does the inventory of electrolytic copper in Guangdong appear this roller coaster trend? we analyze the main reasons as follows:

 

The reasons for the heavy accumulation at the beginning of the year are as follows:

Supply: due to the gradual production of the new smelter, the volume of smelter shipments to Guangdong has increased significantly at the beginning of the year, and we estimate that it will increase by nearly 15000 tons per month.

Demand: 20 years of Spring Festival time is early, the downstream generally began to have a holiday in mid-January, and was affected by the epidemic after the festival, the downstream start time is generally relatively late, and most enterprises resume production one after another after February 13, but the operating rate will not return to the normal level until mid-March.

Therefore, the inflection point only appeared at the beginning of March when Guangdong electrolytic copper storehouse existed.

Reasons for continued destocking after March:

Supply:

Demand:

1. After the epidemic, the state has increased investment in new infrastructure to ensure growth and employment, and the operating rate of most copper downstream enterprises has been maintained at a high level, including the four copper rod plants newly put into production from the end of last year to the beginning of this year (with a total annual production capacity of 670000 tons. Monthly copper consumption of 55800 tons) also benefited from this being able to maintain a relatively high operating rate. As a result, the monthly output of Guangdong warehouse reached a record high of 113200 tons in April.

2. Due to the global spread of the epidemic, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, as the main suppliers of copper scrap, have to extend the time for resumption of work and production again and again. For a time, the supply of imported scrap copper has dropped sharply, and scrap copper rod enterprises can only maintain a low operating rate or even no production. This is also an important reason for electrolytic copper rod enterprises to maintain a high operating rate.

Therefore, since mid-March, Guangdong inventories have continued to decline under the dual effects of reduced supply and a marked increase in demand.

Detailed inbound and outbound data and operating rate changes are shown in the following figure:

As we enter June, we think that the consumption of copper rods has decreased compared with before, but the orders of copper tube enterprises have increased again in June; overall, the total consumption of electrolytic copper in Guangdong in June is only slightly lower than that in May, but the decline is not obvious. The key to the trend of Shengshui is to see the situation of the goods. According to what we have learned for the time being, there will be too many goods arriving in the first ten days of mid-June. Therefore, it is expected that Guangdong Shengshui will remain at a high level in the short term, and it will be difficult for it to fall sharply.

 

"View SMM spot copper historical price

"Click to participate in the second China (Yingtan) Copper Industry Summit Forum and the 15th China International Copper Industry chain Summit"

"these enterprises have signed up! (part of the list of participants is attached)

To sign up for the summit or apply to join the SMM industry exchange group, please scan the code:

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 for 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
KGHM and South32 launch US$725m Sierra Gorda expansion, lifting copper capacity 26%
Oct 02, 2026 16:31 (GMT+8)
KGHM and South32 launch US$725m Sierra Gorda expansion, lifting copper capacity 26%
Read More
KGHM and South32 launch US$725m Sierra Gorda expansion, lifting copper capacity 26%
KGHM and South32 launch US$725m Sierra Gorda expansion, lifting copper capacity 26%
KGHM and South32 have broken ground on a fourth grinding line at the Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum mine in Chile's Atacama region. The US$725 million expansion runs for three years from January 2027, with completion by late 2029 and full output in H2 2030. Ore processing capacity rises 26%, from 131,000 tonnes per day to 165,000 tpd. Annual copper output is projected to climb from 165,000 tonnes in 2025 to 195,000 tonnes, with 6,000 tonnes of molybdenum, 58,000 ounces of gold and 1.7 million ounces of silver as by-products. The project creates over 900 direct jobs and is funded from operating cash flow and debt. Unit operating costs are expected to fall about 10%.
Oct 02, 2026 16:31 (GMT+8)
Emerita Extends Final Review of Iberian Belt West PFS, Release Expected in Coming Weeks
Oct 02, 2026 15:31 (GMT+8)
Emerita Extends Final Review of Iberian Belt West PFS, Release Expected in Coming Weeks
Read More
Emerita Extends Final Review of Iberian Belt West PFS, Release Expected in Coming Weeks
Emerita Extends Final Review of Iberian Belt West PFS, Release Expected in Coming Weeks
Emerita Resources has provided an update on the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) for its Iberian Belt West polymetallic project in Spain, saying the study is well advanced but remains under final technical review.​ The company said the review process has been expanded to include additional technical and quality-assurance oversight before publication. As a result, Emerita now expects the PFS to be released in the coming weeks rather than within the previously indicated timeframe.​ Iberian Belt West hosts copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver mineralization and is one of Emerita’s principal development-stage assets in Spain. The PFS is expected to provide updated detail on the proposed mine plan, processing configuration, capital requirements, operating costs and project economics.​ Emerita said the additional review work is intended to ensure consistency and completeness across the technical disciplines contributing to the study before it is finalized.​ The company did not announce a revised specific publication date, and no new production, capital or economic figures were disclosed in the latest update.​ The extended review delays the next major technical milestone for Iberian Belt West, but the company continues to indicate that the PFS is nearing completion. For the copper market, the significance of the study will depend on the production profile and project economics ultimately disclosed, particularly the contribution of copper relative to the project’s other payable metals. Attention will therefore remain on the timing of the PFS release and whether the final study materially changes the project’s development outlook.
Oct 02, 2026 15:31 (GMT+8)
Cascadia Intersects 75.55 m at 1.19% Cu at Carmacks Copper-Gold Project
Oct 02, 2026 15:27 (GMT+8)
Cascadia Intersects 75.55 m at 1.19% Cu at Carmacks Copper-Gold Project
Read More
Cascadia Intersects 75.55 m at 1.19% Cu at Carmacks Copper-Gold Project
Cascadia Intersects 75.55 m at 1.19% Cu at Carmacks Copper-Gold Project
Cascadia Minerals has reported additional drill results from its 2026 exploration programme at the Carmacks copper-gold project in Yukon, Canada, with new step-out drilling extending mineralization at Zone 2000S beyond the boundaries of the existing Mineral Resource.​ Drill hole CD-26-058 returned 75.55 metres grading 1.19% copper, 0.97 g/t gold, 10.4 g/t silver and 335 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 2.18% copper-equivalent. The interval included 48.66 metres grading 1.61% copper, 1.39 g/t gold, 15.1 g/t silver and 475 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 3.03% CuEq.​ Within the same hole, a higher-grade interval of 14.50 metres returned 2.30% copper, 2.68 g/t gold, 29.5 g/t silver and 1,015 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 5.08% CuEq.​ A second hole, CD-26-059, intersected 93.99 metres grading 0.96% copper, 0.70 g/t gold, 4.6 g/t silver and 919 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 1.94% CuEq. This included 63.97 metres at 1.26% copper, 0.96 g/t gold, 6.3 g/t silver and 1,049 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 2.52% CuEq.​ Cascadia said the latest results continue to expand mineralization at Zone 2000S beyond the limits of the current Mineral Resource and highlight the higher-grade nature of the extension. The reported drill intervals represent drilled thicknesses, with true widths estimated at approximately 60–70%.​ The latest step-out results indicate that copper-gold mineralization at Zone 2000S extends beyond the boundaries of the current Carmacks Mineral Resource. The broad intervals and higher-grade internal zones could support future resource expansion if additional drilling confirms continuity. However, the new intersections have not yet been incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, meaning their ultimate impact on project scale and mine planning remains to be determined.
Oct 02, 2026 15:27 (GMT+8)