On March 23, the 150,000-ton annual electrolytic copper project undertaken by the Second Company of China No.15 Metallurgical Construction Group Co., Ltd. for Jiangxi Copper Hongyuan Copper Industry Co., Ltd. successfully produced a cumulative total of 1,300 tons of high-purity cathode copper, with product purity reaching 99.997%, exceeding the design value of 99.9935%.

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 232,300 mt in physical content of copper scrap and shredded copper scrap in January 2026, down 2.78% MoM and up 22.82% YoY. Imports were 167,900 mt in physical content in February, down 27.72% MoM and down 13.14% YoY. Cumulative imports in January-February 2026 reached 400,300 mt in physical content, up 4.64% YoY on a cumulative basis. (HS code: 74040000)

Chile’s state-owned copper giant Codelco has reported a sharp drop in production to start this year, leading copper industry analysts and former Codelco executives to question its reports of surging output at the end of 2025 that helped the company meet its annual production target.

Fujian Guangmin Copper Industry Co., Ltd.'s annual 35,000-ton cold-rolled high-precision copper strip project is striving for a strong start in the first quarter with solid efforts. The Fujian Guangmin Copper Cold-Rolled High-Precision Copper Strip Project is a key cooperation project between Guangdong and Longyan, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan.The project is being constructed in two phases: the first phase includes the construction of an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons of high-performance purple copper and brass high-precision strips and ancillary facilities, while the second phase involves the construction of an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons of high-copper alloy high-precision strips and related facilities.

Indian recycling company Gravita India has agreed to acquire Rashtriya Metal Industries to expand its copper and copper-alloy recycling operations. The deal, valued at around ₹559 crore, will allow the company to move further into copper alloy production using scrap materials. Analysts say the acquisition reflects the rapid expansion of India’s secondary copper industry.

At the construction site of Liangshan Copper Industry's 125,000-tonne-per-year copper cathode refining project, 96% of the main works have been completed, and key equipment has been commissioned. It is expected that copper cathode will be produced by the end of March. The project has a total investment of approximately 1 billion yuan. Upon operation, it is planned to produce 125,000 tonnes of high-purity copper cathode annually, with an annual output value reaching 8.8 billion yuan.

SMM Analysis: In 2025, China's smelting and refining capacity grew, while the TC for copper concentrates continued to deteriorate. Against this backdrop, smelters were compelled to adjust their raw material mix, with copper scrap, blister copper, and anode plates becoming key substitutes and supplements...

Officials from Sichuan Liwu Copper Industry Co., Ltd. visited Sichuan Gold Group for discussions and signed a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, the two sides will engage in in-depth cooperation in key areas such as mineral resource acquisition, exploration and development, mining technical services, scientific and technological innovation, and talent exchange. By integrating their respective advantages in capital, technology, management, and resources, they aim to achieve a powerful synergy between "gold" and "copper," jointly enhance the comprehensive development efficiency of regional mineral resources, and work together to set a new benchmark for win-win cooperation among state-owned mining enterprises in Sichuan.

On January 26, the environmental impact assessment for the annual processing of 30,000 tons ternary battery black powder production line and supporting 10,000 tons battery crushing line construction project in a copper industry base in a province was officially initiated. With a total investment of 90.23 million RMB, the project aims to further strengthen the company's full-process layout and production capacity advantages in the field of battery material recycling. According to the announcement, this project is an important expansion and upgrade of the existing recycling capacity at the copper industry base. The construction content mainly includes two parts: first, building a new annual 10,000 tons battery crushing and sorting line

SMM News, February 2: According to an official announcement obtained by SMM, Baiyin Nonferrous Metals Copper Industry Company has initiated a public bidding process for 1 metric ton of tellurium ingots starting today. Official information indicates that the quality of the tellurium ingots meets the Te99.95 standard. The reserve price for the bidding is set at a discount of RMB 30 per kilogram. The inventory is located at the factory warehouse, and transportation costs will be borne by the purchaser. The registration deadline is 5:00 PM on February 4, 2026, and the bidding will commence at 3:00 PM on February 5, 2026.