June Copper Billet Operating Rate Pulls Back MoM

SMM Analysis: In H1 2026, the core operating logic of China’s copper anode market can be summarized as follows: overseas project startups drove a recovery in imports, but the tightening of domestic secondary copper policies rapidly shifted the supply-demand pattern from a surplus in Q1 to tightening in Q2...

[SMM Analysis: H1 2026 Review of the Overseas Copper Scrap Market: Copper Prices Surge, Tight Raw Material Supply Supports Firm Discount] In Q1 2026, copper prices stayed high and consolidated around $13,000/mt. It was not until late Q1 that a short-term correction emerged, but prices resumed their uptrend in Q2 and continued to hit new record highs. Behind this, tight copper ore supply provided support on one hand; on the other, the siphon effect on global copper resources triggered by US tariff expectations further amplified market concerns over the supply side. At the same time, rapid growth in new copper-consuming sectors such as NEVs, new energy power, power grid construction, and data centers fueled rising expectations for copper demand. Against the backdrop of supply growth failing to match demand growth, copper prices received strong support. The tight supply of copper units also prompted enterprises to shift their focus from the ore side to supplementary sources beyond mine supply, with copper scrap gaining noticeably in importance. As copper prices continued to surge, copper scrap prices rose in tandem, while structural changes arising from copper resource scarcity began to alter the pricing logic of the copper scrap market, which had previously been dominated by consumption and price differentials.