







Against the backdrop of a constantly evolving global economic landscape, the export market for copper cathode rods is undergoing profound changes. On November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration announced the "Announcement on Adjusting Export Tax Rebate Policies," which, effective December 1, 2024, eliminated export tax rebates for copper semis, covering 34 tariff codes. This policy adjustment has had a significant impact on the export market for copper cathode rods.
According to SMM, starting from the end of November 2024, the export market for copper wire rod has gradually shifted from Ordinary Trade to processing trade. Under the policy pressure of the elimination of export tax rebates, enterprises have actively adjusted their trade strategies, with processing trade becoming the mainstream method for copper cathode rod exports.
Currently, amid fluctuating US tariffs and a volatile global trade landscape, the export market environment for copper cathode rods has become more complex. While enterprises are adjusting their trade modes to expand export markets, they are also facing multiple challenges such as insufficient understanding of policies, raw material supply, and market competition. Against this backdrop, the 2025 SMM Processing Trade Export Training Conference, organized by SMM (an international non-ferrous metal spot quotation platform, hereinafter referred to as SMM), will be held in Suzhou on May 22, 2025. The forum will cover topics including but not limited to: changes in export policies and an introduction to trade modes, the application and implementation process for processing manuals, and an analysis of the current situation in the copper rod export market.
2025 SMM Processing Trade Export Seminar (Phase II) Conference Agenda
13:00-13:30Registration
13:30-13:40 Opening Remarks by the Host
13:40-14:20 Introduction to Policy Changes and Trade Modes
1. Structural Transformation under Policy Changes
2. Differences between Ordinary Trade and Processing Trade – Understanding Changes in Tax Rebates
3. Implementation of Processing Trade – Detailed Explanation of the Application Process for Processing Manuals and Customs Clearance
Guest Speaker: Tongxu Zhang, Senior Analyst at SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.
14:20-14:40 Q&A Session
15:30-15:40 Mid-Session Break
16:30-17:00Analysis of the Current Situation in the Copper Rod Export Market
1. Sharing of Recent Copper Prices and Market Trends for Copper Rods – Detailed Analysis of Export Data
2. Prospects and Risk Points for Copper Rod Exports under the Current International Situation
3. Calculation of Processing Fees for Copper Rod Exports – Importance of Long-Term Contracts for Imported Copper, Hedging, and Currency Locking
Guest Speaker: Tongxu Zhang, Senior Analyst at SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.
The 2025 SMM Processing Trade Export Seminar (Phase II) is an important component of SMM's efforts to align with industry trends and invest more in services to assist industries in opening up channels for going global. Building on the successful experience of the first seminar, this conference will focus on industry pain points and invite industry experts and enterprise representatives to jointly explore strategies for coping with copper rod processing trade exports.
Looking back at the first seminar, over 50 representatives from multiple copper rod enterprises across the country gathered at Shanghai Aurora Tower to engage in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics such as changes in export policies, transformation of trade models, practical operations for applying for processing manuals, overseas market trading strategies, and LME RMB trading pathways. The representatives of participating enterprises expressed that they had gained a lot, developed a deeper understanding of processing trade policies, and mastered practical risk prevention and financing skills.
The upcoming second seminar promises to be equally impressive. This conference will delve into the current challenges and opportunities facing copper rod exports, analyze the prospects and risk points of copper rod exports in the current international situation, and provide a detailed interpretation of the application process for processing manuals, customs declaration, and clearance, among other contents. We have established an efficient platform for resource matching and experience sharing to help enterprises break free from the dilemma of working alone and promote collaborative development across the upstream and downstream of the industry chain!
SMM sincerely invites industry peers to gather in Suzhou to jointly discuss and deliberate on the development plan for copper rod exports, collaborate to address challenges, and explore new growth opportunities. We believe that through this seminar, enterprises will gain an in-depth understanding of market dynamics, stay abreast of the latest policies, expand their business perspectives, inject new vitality into the copper rod export business, and promote the healthy development of the copper rod industry!
For more information about the 2025 SMM Processing Trade Export Seminar (Phase II), please contact:
De'an Xu: 166-0190-0090
For queries, please contact Lemon Zhao at lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please email service.en@smm.cn