During the week, the center of copper prices rebounded somewhat. Coupled with the continued weakening in home appliance demand, new orders pulled back by 8.65 percentage points, and the operating rate of machines in the enamelled wire industry declined as expected to 87.8%.

This week (March 27–April 2), the operating rate of machines in the enamelled wire industry pulled back by 8.65 percentage points to .....

According to SMM, the composite operating rate of the enamelled wire industry was 77.76% in March, up 33.91 percentage points MoM and up 3.38 percentage points YoY.

According to SMM, the comprehensive operating rate of the enamelled wire industry was 77.76% in March, up 33.91 percentage points MoM and up 3.38 percentage points YoY. Among them, the operating rate of large enterprises was 82.634%, that of medium-sized enterprises was 65.39%, and that of small enterprises was 73.76%.

SMM expects the operating rate of the enamelled wire industry to pull back to 73.81 in April. It is understood that by month-end March, new orders in the enamelled wire industry had already pulled back, and the market showed a marked divergence in demand structure. Among them, demand in sectors such as electric power and two-wheelers remained steady and improving, providing effective support to the industry; however, demand in the home appliance segment weakened more than expected, becoming the core variable dragging down overall prosperity, and enterprises remained cautious about the sustainability of April orders.

According to SMM, the cost side of the enamelled wire industry has remained under pressure recently. Driven by rising crude oil prices, insulating varnish prices increased by more than 20%, leaving enamelled wire enterprises facing a sharp rise in raw material costs that was difficult to pass on to downstream customers, further squeezing profit margins.

According to SMM, prices of petroleum-based basic chemical raw materials such as styrene and propylene have risen sharply recently, significantly driving up the costs of engineering plastics for home appliances such as PP and ABS. Coupled with shrinking demand from the Middle East, air-conditioner manufacturers' willingness to stockpile and produce has weakened markedly, and softer demand from the home appliance sector has directly dragged down overall demand for enamelled wire.

This week (March 20–March 26), the operating rate of machines in China’s enamelled wire industry pulled back 0.2 percentage points MoM to 88.73%. Affected by weakening home appliance demand and fluctuations in copper prices, new orders this week pulled back 11.19 percentage points MoM, downstream pick-up of goods slowed down, finished product inventories edged up to 7.47 days, and enterprises were generally concerned about the order outlook for April.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China exported 12,052.46 mt of copper enamelled wire in January 2026, down 1.19% YoY; exports were 10,239.85 mt in February, up 39.64% YoY; cumulative exports in January-February 2026 reached 22,292.31 mt, up 14.14% YoY on a cumulative basis. (HS code 85441100)

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China exported 12,052.46 mt of copper enamelled wire in January 2026, down 1.19% YoY; exports were 10,239.85 mt in February, up 39.64% YoY. In January-February 2026, cumulative exports of copper enamelled wire totaled 22,292.31 mt, up 14.14% YoY. (HS code 85441100)