Operating Rates of Copper Billet Producers Pulled Back Slightly in April

[SMM Brass Billet News Flash] According to SMM, China's copper billet industry is expected to gradually enter the traditional consumption off-season in May. Downstream demand from sectors such as refrigeration and home appliances is expected to weaken further, and orders from traditional markets such as sanitary ware and hardware are unlikely to see significant improvement.

[SMM Brass Billet News Flash] According to SMM, copper billet enterprises saw moderate order performance in early April, with orders from sectors such as home appliance heat dissipation and power supporting equipment sustaining production. However, entering late April, end-use demand from downstream weakened notably, compounded by multiple factors, resulting in insufficient production momentum among enterprises.

Rio Tinto is considering increasing its stake in the Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The project is regarded as one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits and is expected to begin production in 2030, with average annual copper cathode output estimated at approximately 204,800 mt during its first five years of operation. Rio Tinto currently holds around 17.2% of project developer McEwen Copper through its Nuton venture, while Stellantis is also among the project’s key shareholders. Market attention remains focused on major mining companies continuing to strengthen investments in high-quality global copper resources.