SHANGHAI, Apr 13 (SMM) - The number of days of copper inventory carried by Chinese copper smelters dropped from 1.95 days in February to 1 day in March. Copper cathode output gained 4.8% month-on-month. The average premium of SMM #1 copper cathode was 55.4 yuan/mt, which rebounded sharply from -44.5 yuan/mt in February, the SMM data showed. In addition, the SHFE front-month contract switched to the backwardation structure in mid-March, encouraging the smelters’ shipments.

![Sluggish market trading atmosphere, spot price pulls back to 110 yuan/mt [SMM Shandong Copper Cathode Spot Weekly Review]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/udUol20251217171712.jpg)

