[SMM Copper Cathode Rod Flash] In May, the top five export destinations for copper wire rod were Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, together accounting for over 70%. Thailand benefited from robust infrastructure and PV demand, along with enterprise restocking, with shipments remaining strong; India’s exports pulled back significantly, and its ranking fell to eighth.

[India] Raipur billet index fell by around 1 USD/tonne to about 451 USD/tonne EXW, as buyers slowed fresh procurement after sufficient bookings in the previous session. Weak enquiries and softer sentiment in neighbouring markets kept spot trading limited. Rebar and wire rod prices stayed stable, while sponge iron eased by around 1 USD/tonne. The PDRI-to-billet conversion spread stood at about 171 USD/tonne."

[SEA] Indonesian billet offers edged lower by around 2 USD/tonne to about 478 USD/tonne FOB Indonesia, as cheaper China-origin billet at around 462 USD/tonne FOB continued to pressure regional export competitiveness. Indonesian wire rod offers were largely stable at around 497–498 USD/tonne FOB, though buying interest remained limited. ASEAN buyers stayed cautious amid sluggish downstream demand, with most continuing to benchmark against lower-priced Chinese material before committing to fresh bookings.

The EU's new steel trade regime (Regulation 2026/1384) applies from 1 July 2026, replacing the 2019 safeguard that expires 30 June and lifting the out-of-quota duty to 50% from 25%. Within an 18.35 million-tonne total annual tariff-rate quota, stainless gets category-specific caps: cold-rolled sheets and strips 496,342 t, hot-rolled sheets and strips 153,186 t, hot-rolled quarto plate 17,025 t, bars and light sections 133,595 t, wire rod 40,462 t, and seamless tubes and pipes 32,967 t—about 873,577 t of stainless in total. Quotas run 1 July–30 June and are administered quarterly. Once a category's quota fills, further imports face the 50% duty, double the prior 25% penalty, tightening access for non-EU stainless.

[Steel Mill Price Adjustment] On June 25, Shougang Group Changzhi adjusted construction steel prices: rebar, coiled rebar, and high-speed wire rod prices remain temporarily stable. [SMM Steel]

In May, total exports of copper wire rod (HS codes 74081100 and 74081900) edged down slightly MoM, showing a YoY increase but a MoM decrease. Specific data are as follows: According to customs statistics, total exports of copper wire rod (HS codes 74081100, 74081900) in May decreased 0.47% MoM to 30,400 mt, up 79.72% YoY. Exports of copper cathode wire with maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than 6mm were 19,600 mt, up 18.09% MoM and 116.25% YoY. Monthly exports of other copper cathode wire were 10,800 mt, down 22.61% MoM but up 37.42% YoY. In May 2026, exports of copper wire rod (HS code 74081100, 74081900) stabilized. On the one hand, domestic copper rod processing enterprises continued to expand their overseas channels, with export orders providing stable support; on the other hand, copper prices fluctuated within a limited range in May, and downstream demand outside China remained stable during the period. These multiple factors combined to drive steady export performance in May. In terms of specific trade modes, in May 2026, exports under processing trade with imported materials accounted for 59.87% of total copper wire rod exports, those under processing trade with supplied materials accounted for 34.86%, entrepot trade by customs special control area accounted for 3.75%, and ordinary trade exports accounted for 1.5%. By country, the top five export destinations for China’s copper wire rod in May were Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, together accounting for over 70% of total exports. Among them, Thailand saw robust demand from the infrastructure, PV, and electronics manufacturing sectors, while China’s copper rod enterprises continued to deepen their presence in Southeast Asian export markets; this was further supported by stable copper prices in May, prompting some enterprises to restock and purchase in bulk. India’s exports declined significantly in May, pulling back to eighth place. In summary, China's copper rod exports stabilized overall in May 2026. Domestic processing enterprises continued to build overseas export channels, and relatively small copper price fluctuations during the month, combined with generally stable downstream demand outside China, jointly kept export volumes largely free of significant volatility. Entering June, overseas end-use demand steadied, and China's capacity to secure export orders continued to strengthen, supporting a slight MoM increase in exports. However, constrained by high-level copper price fluctuations and substitution by overseas local capacity, upside room was limited, and the overall stabilization continued.