The 2026 (21st) SMM Copper Industry Conference & Expo, organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), will take place from April 8-10, 2026, at the Suzhou International Expo Center in Jiangsu Province, China.
This year's event, set to be the largest in its 21-year history, will bring together 10,000+ attendees, 120+ exhibitors, and 5,000㎡+ exhibition space. Even more excitingly, the event will be held concurrently with our Aluminum Exhibition and New Energy Exhibition, allowing you to access all three exhibitions with just one ticket. It is anticipated to attract 40,000+ industry players, including end-user groups from the booming new energy sector with robust copper demand.
This conference adopts a unique "exhibition + conference" format, featuring five major forums where over 60 industry guests will deliver speeches, making it an industry event that no one in the copper industry should miss. Amid global copper industry adjustments driven by tariffs and supply chain volatility, the event will focus on industrial upgrade, green transition, smart manufacturing, and international collaboration, offering insights and opportunities to guide the copper industry toward efficiency, sustainability, and a more environmentally friendly future.
Conference Date: April 8–10, 2026
Conference Location: Suzhou International Expo Center, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
Organizer: SMM
Guided by:
- Malaysia Non-Ferrous Metals Association;
- China Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance for Resources Recycling Industry (CIAR);
- Shandong Wire and Cable Industry Association;
- China Sulphuric Acid Industry Association;
- And more......
Conference Scale: 10,000+ attendees
Conference Participants
Audiences, exhibitors & attendees include but are not limited to:
- Upstream miners
- Smelters
- Processing enterprises (copper plate/sheet and strip, copper foil, copper rod, copper pipe & tube, copper busbar, copper billet, wire & cable, etc.)
- End-users, such as electronics & electrical, semiconductor, automotive parts producers, PV and other new energy producers, energy storage system suppliers;
- Recycling enterprises;
- Third-party equipment providers;
- Government;
- Industry associations;
- Traders;
- Overseas investment promotion agencies, etc.
Speakers include but are not limited to:
- Management executives from renowned enterprises;
- Academic experts;
- Representatives from well-known financial institutions;
- Government associations
Conference Benefits
- All-Forum Pass
- Conference Materials Bag
- Expert Presentation Slides
- 1-on-1 Matchmaking Service
- Meal Vouchers, Coffee Breaks, Executive Dinner, etc.
- Copper Industry Map, Professional Group Chats, etc.
Highlighted Forums
✔️ Electrical Materials Forum — Exploring copper's role in power grids, electrification, and advanced conductive applications
✔️ Copper-based New Materials Application Forum — Showcasing breakthroughs in alloys, composites, and next-generation copper-based innovations
✔️ Secondary Copper Industry Green Development Forum — Addressing recycling, circular economy, and sustainable practices in secondary copper production
✔️ Copper Production-Finance Innovation Forum — Discussing integration of production strategies with financial tools, risk management, and market-driven solutions
(Conference themes will be further refined and updated based on speaker feedback)
Conference Registration
Link: https://ccie.metal.com/tickets?fromId=338203708e
QR Code: Scan the QR code below
Delegate Register: Early Bird Discount - 20% Off! (deadline: February 13, 2026)
Visitor Register: Free registration for visitors is open now. Link: https://ccie.metal.com/visitor?fromId=338203708e
Become Exhibitor: Limited booths available, book now!
Conference Organizing Committee: SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd.
For Inquiries about Speaker, Delegate, Exhibition & Sponsor, you are welcome to contact Jenny Wu
For Inquiries about Media, Association, and Publication, please reach out to Cheryl Yang
Africa: An Important Copper Supply Hub
African copper ore production accounts for approximately 15–20% of the global total, exerting a significant impact on the global copper supply chain. In particular, copper concentrate exports from the DRC and Zambia have a direct influence on smelters in Asia and Europe. Any fluctuations in ore production, strikes, or policy adjustments may cause short-term volatility in copper prices.
- DRC: The world's second-largest copper producer, after Chile, with copper production of approximately 1.5 million mt in 2025, accounting for about 10% of global production.
- Zambia: Highly dependent on copper exports, with production of around 900,000 mt in 2025.
Investing in Africa
- The African copper mining industry is attracting global capital investment, particularly from Chinese enterprises investing in mines and smelting plants in the DRC, Zambia, and other regions.
- Increasing demand for high-purity copper from EVs and ESS further highlights the strategic importance of African copper ore as a global resource.
Focusing on the core issues and practical needs of Africa's non-ferrous metals industry, CCIE2026 will collaborate with Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) to co-host the "Africa Special Salon" and "Supply-Demand Networking Sessions."
- Supply-Demand Dynamics and Development Trends of Key Non-Ferrous Metal Resources in Africa, Such as Copper, Cobalt, and Lithium
- Cooperation Opportunities Between China and Africa in Mine Development, Smelting and Processing, Trade Circulation, and Investment and Financing
- Precise Matchmaking Between African Resource Projects and Enterprises in Chinese and International Industry Chains
About WiM-Africa
WiM-Africa is a regional mining organization active in multiple resource-rich African countries, focusing on the development and participation of female professionals and practitioners in the mining sector, while also serving the broader African mining ecosystem. Its members come from various specialized fields such as mine development, smelting and processing, mining engineering and services, trade, investment and financing, and policy research. The organization maintains long-term communication and cooperation with numerous mining enterprises, industry institutions, and relevant government departments across several countries. Leveraging its cross-regional network and industry influence, WiM-Africa plays a significant role in promoting mining exchanges, project matchmaking, and sustainable development practices.
Furthermore, SMM is also systematically advancing multiple African conferences and industrial layout across beyond copper.
- February 11, 2026: SMM AFRICA CRITICAL MINERALS SEMINAR 2026, Focusing on Regional Resources and Trade Trends
- June 1-3, 2026: Li-ION BATTERY Africa 2026, Centered on Lithium, Cobalt, Phosphate Ore Resources, Battery Materials, and ESS Industry Development
- October 13-14, 2026: AFRICA CRITICAL MINERALS FORUM 2026, Covering Critical Mineral Resources Such as Copper, Cobalt, and Lithium
Through strategic collaboration with WiM-Africa, SMM will further expand its African mining cooperation network and strengthen its brand presence and market position in Africa.
Zambian Government Delegation Visits SMM to Explore Strategic Cooperation in Energy & Minerals
On January 17, a high-level delegation of 10 officials from key Zambian government institutions—including the Zambia National Assembly, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, and Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) — visited Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). The delegation was warmly received by SMM’s executive leadership, including CEO Logan Lu and Overseas Marketing Director Lloyd Guan. Both parties engaged in constructive dialogue regarding investment promotion in the energy and mineral sectors, as well as resource cooperation on international platform.
This visit marks a significant milestone for deepening industry exchanges between Zambia and SMM, highlighting Zambia’s commitment to leveraging international professional platform to boost local industrial development while injecting new momentum into global cooperation within the energy and minerals fields. Zambia, a core resource-rich country in south-central Africa, is renowned as the "Copper Country." As a central part of the Central African copper belt, it boasts abundant resources with strategic value and cooperation potential.
