Seasonal Recovery Of Copper Billet Market To End In April

SHANGHAI, Apr 13 (SMM) - The average operating rate of copper billet producers is estimated at 73.76% in April, up 0.2 percentage point month on month and 10.73 percentage points year on year. Some companies fear that orders will decline sharply in the second quarter. Copper billet producers in Guangdong are heavily reliant on exports and are affected by softening overseas demand. Those in Zhejiang are also pessimistic over the overseas market. In terms of domestic demand, orders from the traditional hardware and bathroom sectors declined sharply, despite improving home sales. Even copper billet companies who benefited from booming new energy vehicle (NEV) market are now facing great challenges. Affected by price cuts in the gasoline car market, the NEV market also cooled down, dealing a blow to the copper billet market.