Declining Bathroom Product Demand Reflects Sluggish Real Estate Market in China

[SMM Analysis: High Refined Copper Spot Premiums Create Pricing Room: Why Are Some Scrap Traders Raising Their Bids?] Millberry bids range from 98.5% to near par, reflecting different buyers and trade models. High copper spot premiums in China and LME backwardation allow some traders to sell inventory high and replenish against a lower 3M benchmark. However, costs and basis risks limit this strategy. Direct consumers may bid higher for supply security, quality and recycled-content needs.

On August 31, Chile's National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that the country's industrial production index fell 5.1% year-on-year in July. Within that, the mining production index (IPMin) declined 7.2%, with metallic mining down 10.7%, subtracting 9.301 percentage points from the index, mainly on lower copper extraction and processing. USGS data show Chile accounted for roughly 16% of global molybdenum output in 2025. The recent output losses at Chile's copper-molybdenum mines have been concentrated at the beneficiation stage, which hits by-product molybdenum harder than copper; global molybdenum supply is therefore expected to feel the impact in 2026.

On September 2, the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) announced that it had approved Shanghai Yuqiang Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. to adjust its designated warehouse capacity for copper, aluminum and zinc futures. At the storage site at No. 3501 Gonghe New Road, Shanghai, the company will cancel its copper and aluminum futures storage qualifications, while its approved zinc futures warehouse capacity will remain unchanged at 20,000 tonnes. At the site at No. 2222 Jichuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, its zinc futures storage qualification will be canceled, while approved capacity will be adjusted to 45,000 tonnes of copper and 5,000 tonnes of aluminum.