China produced 914,000 mt of copper cathode in October, up 5.4% on the year, and for the first ten months of this year China’s copper cathode output totalled 8.36 million mt, with a year on year increase of 6.1%, according the data from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Domestic nickel sulphate output in October stood at 17,000 mt of Ni content, and 77,400 mt of physical content, up 22.62% on the month and 45.43% year on year.

SMM data showed that China produced 264,000 mt of primary lead in October, down 1.4% from September, but up 1.15% from a year ago.

China's copper cathode output was largely unchanged month on month in September, staying at high levels, as some large-scale smelters stepped up production in order to fulfill annual output targets and imports of copper concentrate rebounded significantly. However, output at smelters that use copper scrap as raw materials slid on the month as the price spread between copper cathode and copper scrap narrowed as domestic copper scrap supply tightened.

China’s copper cathode output rose sharply in August due to minimal maintenance and ample supply of copper scrap.  

China’s copper cathode output rose sharply in August as almost no maintenance has been heard in the month and copper scrap supply was sufficient.   

China’s nickel sulphate output jumped 15.69% on the month and 18.46% on the year, to 60,500 mt or 13,300 mt in nickel content in August.

SMM data showed that China produced 285,000 mt of primary lead in August, up 9.99% from July, and up 12.01% from a year ago.

Domestic copper consumption recovered rapidly in the second quarter, while the supply tightened as smelters underwent maintenance. The supply gap was supplemented by imported copper, with traders actively shipping copper cathode to the domestic market. Most of these cargoes arrived during June-July.

Bengang plans to overhaul its production line of 2,230 mm cold-rolled coils for 10 days from August 25 and will resume operations on September 5, and this is expected to reduce cold-rolled galvanising output by 140,000 mt, SMM learned. In addition, Masteel also plans to put its cold rolling lines under maintenance, which will cut cold-rolled coil output by about 150,000 mt.