BC Copper Closed Slightly Lower Intraday as Persistent Rate Hike Expectations Continued to Weigh on the Market [SMM BC Copper Commentary]

Published: May 20, 2026 17:44

Today, the most-traded BC copper contract 2606 opened at 92,280 yuan/mt, touching a high of 92,320 yuan/mt at the beginning of the session. Copper prices then fluctuated downward in center, continuing to fluctuate downward after the day session opened to probe a low of 91,230 yuan/mt. Prices subsequently fluctuated upward, ultimately closing at 92,080 yuan/mt, down 0.54%. Open interest stood at 9,081 lots, a decrease of 44 lots from the previous trading day, with trading volume at 6,552 lots, indicating bulls reducing positions. On the macro perspective, uncertainty lingered over the direction of US-Iran negotiations, with geopolitical friction risks escalating. Meanwhile, the market bet on a hawkish shift in US Fed monetary policy, with the probability of a rate hike within the year rising to 75%, and rate hike expectations continuing to pressure copper prices. On the fundamentals, supply side, domestic smelters were undergoing concentrated maintenance, with fewer copper cathode arrivals in the market, tight circulation of high-quality copper sources, and overall tight spot supply. Demand side, although copper prices saw a slight correction, downstream wait-and-see sentiment remained strong, with only just-in-time procurement maintained and overall demand remaining weak.

 

SHFE copper 2606 contract closed at 103,950 yuan/mt. Based on the BC copper 2606 contract at 92,080 yuan/mt, its after-tax price was 104,050 yuan/mt. The price spread between SHFE copper 2606 contract and BC copper was -100, maintaining an inversion but narrowing compared to the previous day.

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 for 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
Midea Air Conditioning Abandons Traditional Cold Year Opening for Retail-Focused Strategy in 2027
19 hours ago
Midea Air Conditioning Abandons Traditional Cold Year Opening for Retail-Focused Strategy in 2027
Read More
Midea Air Conditioning Abandons Traditional Cold Year Opening for Retail-Focused Strategy in 2027
Midea Air Conditioning Abandons Traditional Cold Year Opening for Retail-Focused Strategy in 2027
According to Yingketong, Midea Air Conditioning officially announced in July 2026 that it will no longer initiate the traditional Cold Year Opening for the 2027 new cooling year, instead fully committing to a new strategy of “battling for retail and competing for end-users.” This decision marks a temporary halt to the near three-decade-old model of “collecting payments in the off-season and chasing volume in the peak season” within the air conditioning industry. The “Cold Year Opening” is a unique business rhythm in the air conditioning sector. Typically, starting from H2 (from July/August to October/November), producers hold openings in batches through policy incentives to attract channel merchants to make advance payments and stockpile goods. Then, in H1 of the following year, they concentrate shipments through various large-scale sales promotions, creating a cycle of “pushing inventory in the off-season and chasing volume in the peak season.” The specific measures for Midea Air Conditioning’s cancellation of the new Cold Year Opening include: no longer holding opening meetings that involve centralized channel payments, policy lock-in, and large-scale stockpiling; abolishing the practice of “mandatory advance payments to lock in annual policies”; and shifting to terminal replenishment based on actual demand, with full-cycle normalized policies implemented.
19 hours ago
Zambian Elections: Hichilema Expected to Win; Economic Growth in Focus
Jul 24, 2026 23:29
Zambian Elections: Hichilema Expected to Win; Economic Growth in Focus
Read More
Zambian Elections: Hichilema Expected to Win; Economic Growth in Focus
Zambian Elections: Hichilema Expected to Win; Economic Growth in Focus
Zambia will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on August 13. The market widely expects that incumbent President Hichilema Hakainde will win reelection. For investors, the core concern is whether his second term can transform the economic stabilization after the sovereign debt default into robust, mining-led, job-creating growth.
Jul 24, 2026 23:29
Antofagasta Resumes Production at Los Pelambres Copper Mine After Rain and Power Outage
Jul 24, 2026 23:29
Antofagasta Resumes Production at Los Pelambres Copper Mine After Rain and Power Outage
Read More
Antofagasta Resumes Production at Los Pelambres Copper Mine After Rain and Power Outage
Antofagasta Resumes Production at Los Pelambres Copper Mine After Rain and Power Outage
Chilean copper miner Antofagasta said production has resumed at its Los Pelambres copper mine, north of Santiago, after it was halted by heavy rains and a power outage. The London-listed miner on Friday maintained its full-year production expectations despite the brief disruption, saying there was no significant damage to equipment or critical infrastructure.
Jul 24, 2026 23:29
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?Sign in here
BC Copper Closed Slightly Lower Intraday as Persistent Rate Hike Expectations Continued to Weigh on the Market [SMM BC Copper Commentary] - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)