CSPT did not set Q2 guidance TC/RC for spot copper concentrate

According to internal sources, the copper concentrate benchmark TC/RC under long-term contracts have been set at $65/mt and ￠6.5/lb respectively in 2022.

The CSPT held a general manager office conference in Shanghai this morning, at which the spot TC/RC guidance price was finalised at $70/mt and￠7.0/lb in Q4. Spot TC has fallen to $30/mt at the end of March, the lowest level in ten years. Many smelters suggested that they could not accept prices below $30/mt. In doing so, the CSPT did not determine the rock-bottom price for Q2, the price in Q3 rose slightly from Q1 and increased sharply in Q4, indicating that the tight supply of copper concentrate was eased.

The CSPT held a general manager office conference in Shanghai this morning, at which the spot TC/RC guidance price was finalised at $70/mt and￠7.0/lb in Q4.

As of Friday July 16, the SMM Imported Copper Concentrate Index (weekly) stood at $50.82/mt, $3.74/mt higher than a week earlier, rising for 14 consecutive weeks.

Antofagasta and Chinese mainstream copper smelters have reached an agreement on June 30 over the TCs for long-term contracts of copper concentrate in H1 2022.

As of Friday June 25, the SMM Imported Copper Concentrate Index (weekly) stood at $39.4/mt, $1.54/mt higher than a week earlier. Traded TCs stood at or above $40/mt despite quiet trades, which were favourable for smelters.

SMM RCs for domestic blister copper stood at 1,800-2,000 yuan/mt in May, up 100 yuan/mt month on month. RCs for imported blister copper were $185-205/mt on a cif basis, up $15/mt on the month.

As of Friday March 19, the SMM imported copper concentrate index (weekly) stood at $32.8/mt, up $0.73/mt from a week earlier. Trades improved but spot TCs diverged, with high-20s and mid-30s. More traders quoted at high-20s, but most smelters insisted on the bottom line of $30/mt.

China imported 1.83 million mt of copper ore and concentrate (hereinafter referred to as copper concentrate) in November 2020, a month-on-month increase of 8.3% and a year-on-year decrease of 15%, according to China Customs.

The China Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT) set the floor prices of imported copper concentrate treatment  and refining charges (TC/RC) at $53/mt and 5.3 cent/lb respectively for the first quarter of 2021, down $5/mt and 0.5 cent/lb from the fourth quarter of 2020.