LME copper inventories dropped to a nearly nine-month low, while SHFE copper inventories hit a more than two-month low.

Published: Apr 14, 2025 11:36

The London Metal Exchange (LME) released data showing that LME copper inventories first increased and then decreased last week, with the latest inventory level dropping to 208,775 mt, the lowest in nearly nine months.

The latest data from the Shanghai Futures Exchange revealed that SHFE copper inventories continued to decline in the week ending April 11, with weekly inventories decreasing by 18.96% to 182,941 mt, the lowest in over two months. International copper inventories increased by 2,378 mt to 27,788 mt.

Last week, COMEX copper inventories continued to accumulate, with the latest inventory level reaching 117,821 mt, hitting a new high in over six years.

Note: Generally, continuous declines in domestic and overseas exchange inventories will support futures prices, while increases will have a bearish impact.

Comparison of Copper Inventories Across Three Major Exchanges Since 2023

Below is the copper inventory data from the three major exchanges since March 2025 (unit: mt):

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 to learn 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
China's Copper Ore Imports Down 11.97% MoM, Up 5.84% YoY in February 2026
14 mins ago
China's Copper Ore Imports Down 11.97% MoM, Up 5.84% YoY in February 2026
Read More
China's Copper Ore Imports Down 11.97% MoM, Up 5.84% YoY in February 2026
China's Copper Ore Imports Down 11.97% MoM, Up 5.84% YoY in February 2026
General Administration of Customs: In February 2026, China imported 2.31 million dmt of copper ore and concentrate, a decrease of 11.97% month-on-month and an increase of 5.84% year-on-year. The cumulative imports in January-February increased by 4.9%.
14 mins ago
China's Jan 2026 Copper Ore Imports Down 2.96% MoM, Up 3.72% YoY
15 mins ago
China's Jan 2026 Copper Ore Imports Down 2.96% MoM, Up 3.72% YoY
Read More
China's Jan 2026 Copper Ore Imports Down 2.96% MoM, Up 3.72% YoY
China's Jan 2026 Copper Ore Imports Down 2.96% MoM, Up 3.72% YoY
General Administration of Customs: In January 2026, China imported 2.624 million dmt of copper ores and concentrates, a decrease of 2.96% month-on-month and an increase of 3.72% year-on-year.
15 mins ago
As Delivery Approaches, the Price Spread Between Futures Contracts Widens; SHFE Copper Spot Premiums Shift from a Discount to Flat [SMM Shanghai Spot Copper]
1 hour ago
As Delivery Approaches, the Price Spread Between Futures Contracts Widens; SHFE Copper Spot Premiums Shift from a Discount to Flat [SMM Shanghai Spot Copper]
Read More
As Delivery Approaches, the Price Spread Between Futures Contracts Widens; SHFE Copper Spot Premiums Shift from a Discount to Flat [SMM Shanghai Spot Copper]
As Delivery Approaches, the Price Spread Between Futures Contracts Widens; SHFE Copper Spot Premiums Shift from a Discount to Flat [SMM Shanghai Spot Copper]
[SMM Shanghai Spot Copper] As the delivery period approaches, spot discounts for SHFE copper are expected to continue narrowing steadily. From the perspective of market structure, the inter-month contango price spread between futures contracts has widened, significantly strengthening suppliers’ willingness to ship to delivery warehouses. In particular, inventory in Jiangsu is mainly in the form of warrants, and suppliers tend to opt for delivery rather than spot sales, resulting in persistently tight availability of deliverable spot cargo. In addition, spot premiums quotes in Jiangsu are slightly higher than those in Shanghai. Against this backdrop, suppliers showed a strong willingness to hold prices firm intraday, and quotes in the second session were raised slightly, making procurement more difficult for some downstream enterprises. Looking ahead to tomorrow, under delivery-driven dynamics, spot premiums in Shanghai are expected to remain at current levels.
1 hour ago
LME copper inventories dropped to a nearly nine-month low, while SHFE copper inventories hit a more than two-month low. - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)