April Copper Plate/Sheet and Strip Operating Rate Hit 5-Year High

Published: May 12, 2026 10:42

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In April, the copper plate/sheet and strip industry continued its high prosperity, with the operating rate rising to a four-year peak for the same period and strong production momentum. On one hand, market demand was released in a concentrated manner in March, with enterprises taking significantly higher volumes of orders, resulting in ample orders on hand awaiting delivery and sufficient order visibility, effectively supporting enterprises in maintaining a high production schedule pace in April. On the other hand, overall end-use demand continued its positive trend, with order intake from core downstream sectors such as power, new energy, and electronics remaining generally stable. In particular, end-use demand from semiconductor lead frames, NEVs, energy storage, and power transformers r

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