Downstream Purchase Willingness Weakened amid Surging Copper Prices, Spot Cargo Trading Activity Sluggish [SMM North China Spot Copper]

Published: Apr 14, 2026 11:23

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Today, #1 copper cathode spot prices in North China against the front-month contract were reported at a discount of 160 yuan/mt to a discount of 100 yuan/mt, with the average price unchanged from the previous trading day. The average transaction price was 100,770 yuan/mt, up 2,160 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

SMM April 14 update:

Spot #1 copper cathode prices against the front-month contract in North China were reported at a discount of 160 yuan/mt to a discount of 100 yuan/mt today, with the average price unchanged from the previous trading day, while the average transaction price of 100,770 yuan/mt rose 2,160 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. As copper prices surged back above the 100,000 yuan/mt mark, downstream demand was weak today with poor purchase willingness, and spot copper trading activity was sluggish. The purchase sentiment for copper cathode in North China was 1.22 today, down 0.46 from the previous trading day, while the shipments sentiment was 1.79, down 0.39 from the previous trading day ().

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