Weak downstream orders keep Shanghai spot copper premiums under pressure [SMM SHFE copper spot]
[SMM Shanghai Spot Copper] Looking ahead to tomorrow, downstream orders remain weak, and end-user purchase willingness is low. Intraday purchasing sentiment in the Shanghai region pulled back notably, with the market still dominated by rigid-demand purchases. Suppliers lowered their quotes repeatedly to facilitate transactions, with the transaction center for standard-quality copper gradually shifting from a premium of over 200 yuan/mt in early trading to around 130-140 yuan/mt, reflecting that downstream acceptance of current copper prices and spot premiums remains limited. Meanwhile, the backwardation spread between contracts remains at a relatively high level of 440-530 yuan/mt, and suppliers still face pressure from position rollover and selling, which may continue to weigh on spot premiums. Overall, given weak downstream demand, insufficient purchase willingness, and suppliers cutting prices to sell, spot prices against the SHFE copper 2609 contract are expected to face slight downward pressure tomorrow. However, as the premium center continues to pull back, some low-priced cargoes may gradually attract rigid demand, and further downside is expected to be relatively limited.