SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,599/mt, fluctuated upward to a high of $13,683/mt in early trading, then swung wildly downward to a low of $13,590/mt near the session’s end, eventually closing at $13,590.5/mt, up 0.54%. Trading volume reached 19,200 lots, and open interest was 271,000 lots, down 1,319 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bear position reduction. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2607 contract opened at 104,780 yuan/mt, quickly rose to 104,870 yuan/mt in early trading, then fluctuated downward to a low of 104,270 yuan/mt, later swung wildly before closing at 104,390 yuan/mt, up 0.31%. Trading volume reached 30,000 lots, and open interest was 162,000 lots, down 1,482 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bear position reduction.

Today, the most-traded BC copper 2606 contract opened at 93,550 yuan/mt, touching a low of 93,550 yuan/mt right at the open before maintaining a fluctuating trend at highs. Near the close, it rose to 95,490 yuan/mt and ultimately settled at 94,500 yuan/mt, up 1.81%. Open interest stood at 9,614 lots, an increase of 82 lots from the previous trading day, while trading volume reached 10,260 lots, an increase of 1,881 lots from the previous trading day. On the macro front, Peru, as a major global copper exporter, issued an emergency energy crisis decree on Monday, sparking market concerns over ore supply disruptions and driving copper prices to fluctuate at highs. Fundamentals side, on the supply side, with delivery approaching, suppliers showed a stronger willingness to ship to delivery warehouses, and the spot supply landscape remained tight; on the demand side, downstream purchasing sentiment was weak due to high copper prices. The SHFE copper 2606 contract closed at 106,510 yuan/mt. Based on the BC copper 2606 contract price of 94,500 yuan/mt, its after-tax price was 106,785 yuan/mt. The price spread between the SHFE copper 2606 contract and BC copper was -275 yuan/mt, showing an inversion that widened compared to the previous day.

Argentina expects copper and lithium exports to surge over the next decade, driven by President Milei’s mining investment incentives. The government said major companies including BHP and Rio Tinto are expanding investment plans as the country positions itself within a future “copper triangle.”

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,400.5/mt, touched a high of $13,462/mt early in the session before its center fluctuated downward, dipped to $13,328/mt before the center rose, and ultimately moved sideways to close at $13,391.5/mt, up 2.22%, with trading volume at 27,000 lots and open interest at 268,000 lots, an increase of 1,485 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 103,350 yuan/mt, touched a high of 103,370 yuan/mt right at the open, then its center dipped to 102,850 yuan/mt before staying high and moving sideways, ultimately closing at 103,160 yuan/mt, up 0.49%, with trading volume at 36,000 lots and open interest at 199,000 lots, a decrease of 185 lots from the previous trading day, mainly indicating bears reducing positions.

[Latest Data from the General Administration of Customs] In March 2026, China's wire and cable exports totaled 218,000 mt, down 2.63% MoM and down 7.22% YoY. Of this, copper wire and cable exports were 118,000 mt, up 8.37% MoM and up 9.38% YoY. (Copper wire and cable HS codes: 85444921, 85444929, 85446012, 85446013, 85446014, 85446019, 85446090)

On April 20 (Monday), two industry sources said that Zambia's two largest copper smelters and sulphuric acid producers plan to carry out extended maintenance shutdowns later this year, which will further squeeze the country's copper production and the supply of sulphuric acid used to process copper and cobalt. The Iran war has disrupted global supplies of this critical acid and other leaching chemicals, forcing mines in neighboring Congo, the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, to reduce usage or consider production cuts. Zambia's mining ministry said that, as Africa's second-largest producer of critical metals needed for clean energy technologies, the country's copper smelters generate approximately 2 million mt of sulphuric acid annually, mainly as a by-product for use by local mines, with the surplus exported to the DRC. First Quantum Minerals' country head in Zambia said that Zambia's own sulphuric acid inventory had been severely depleted, leaving virtually no export capacity. Meanwhile, miners in neighboring DRC were also struggling to cope with tightening chemical supplies. *Mopani's long-overdue maintenance* A chemicals trader said that although copper smelters typically shut down for about 30 days each year for routine maintenance, Mopani and Chambishi copper mines will face longer shutdowns this year. A mining executive said Mopani copper mine had not undergone maintenance for some time and plans to shut down for three days in June, followed by an extended shutdown of approximately 40-45 days, August-mid-September. The chemicals trader said Chambishi copper mine plans to shut down for approximately two months throughout August, but did not elaborate on the reasons for the planned extended shutdown. Zambia tightened controls on sulphuric acid exports this month, requiring traders to obtain permits. The country said the move was aimed at protecting domestic industries. First Quantum's Zambia country director Anthony Mukutuma said the measures were reasonable but exports were unlikely in the short term. *Global copper supply expected to decline* Global copper supply will tighten this year as years of underinvestment have constrained mine production growth. Zambia produced 890,346 mt of the red metal last year, falling short of the 1 million mt target. Meanwhile, according to shipping data, Congo's copper exports declined in Q1 this year. The mining executive said Mopani copper mine was operating well below its 225,000 mt finished copper capacity due to a shortage of copper concentrates caused by years of underinvestment. The executive said the main owner, UAE-based International Resources Holding, was simultaneously developing and mining the mine, which forced intermittent production stoppages and further constrained output. (Wenhua Consolidated)