Lead concentrate TCs remained generally stable this week. Some mining enterprises indicated that they had lowered zinc concentrate TCs in May due to market conditions and a sharp rise in sulphuric acid prices, but the quoted lead concentrate TCs for concentrates produced and sold during the same period were not adjusted. A few suppliers holding lead concentrates rich in zinc and copper adjusted the starting payable or payable indicator for copper and zinc contained in lead ore, but did not directly lower their lead concentrate TC quotations. Regarding imported ore prices, smelters maintained mainstream quotations of -$150 to -$130/dmt. Since late April, the SHFE/LME lead price ratio has continued to decline, losses on imported lead concentrates have widened, and smelters showed little enthusiasm for negotiating and purchasing. Regarding the silver payable indicator for lead concentrates, as silver prices have yet to break out of their sideways range and macro influences remain complex, the precious metals trend remains unclear. Both buyers and sellers remained cautiously on the sidelines, and the silver payable indicator for lead concentrates across various silver content levels remained stable.

SMM May 8 News: Data Brief: As of Friday, May 8, SMM copper inventories across major regions nationwide decreased by 1,400 mt WoW from the post-holiday level to 251,500 mt, with total inventories up 131,400 mt compared to the same period last year (120,100 mt). Specifically, in Shanghai, imported and domestic copper continued to flow into warehouses, with inventory maintaining a buildup trend; in Jiangsu, overall arrivals were relatively low, and coupled with gradually recovering consumption after the holiday, inventory continued to decline; in Guangdong, although domestic copper arrivals saw steady recovery, they remained at relatively low levels overall, and with downstream processing enterprises resuming normal operations and consumption after the holiday, regional inventory saw some destocking. Looking ahead, supply side, imported copper arrivals are expected to show incremental growth, and domestic copper arrivals are also expected to rebound overall; demand side, processing enterprises are gradually resuming production after the holiday, with marginal demand recovery, but under the suppression of elevated copper prices, downstream procurement and consumption remain mediocre. The current market presents a pattern of limited supply increases and slight consumption recovery, and China's copper cathode social inventory is expected to maintain a slight destocking trend next week.

SMM May 8 update: Guangdong region: Premiums in this region bottomed out and rebounded this week, mainly because downstream enterprises gradually resumed normal production, inventory shifted from increasing to decreasing, and suppliers held prices firm on shipments. As of Thursday, high-quality copper was quoted at 290 yuan/mt, down 30 yuan/mt WoW; standard-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 220 yuan/mt, down 20 yuan/mt WoW; SX-EW copper was quoted at 150 yuan/mt, down 30 yuan/mt WoW. On Thursday, the price spread of standard-quality copper premiums between Shanghai and Guangdong showed Guangdong higher by 210 yuan/mt, with the spread widening again, drawing attention to whether cross-regional cargo transfers will occur going forward. According to SMM statistics, as of Thursday, total inventory in Guangdong warehouses was 16,300 mt, up 2,600 mt WoW, with warrants totalling 4,500 mt, down 701 mt WoW. Specifically: Weekly warehouse arrivals were 11,900 mt/week, below the annual average (14,000 mt/week); warehouse withdrawals were 11,200 mt/week, below the annual average (14,200 mt/week), showing a pattern of weak supply and demand during the Labour Day holiday. Looking ahead to next week, arrivals are not expected to increase significantly, but consumption is gradually recovering. Therefore, inventory is expected to remain at low levels, and spot premiums are also expected to stay elevated. (The above information is derived from market research and comprehensive assessment by the SMM research team. The information provided in this article is for reference only. This article does not constitute direct advice for investment research decisions. Clients should make prudent decisions and not replace independent judgment with this information. Any decisions made by clients are unrelated to SMM.)

South Korea’s LS Group recently saw its market value rise to around KRW 64 trillion, driven by growing demand for AI-related power infrastructure. Its subsidiary LS Cable & System, a major global high-voltage cable supplier, continues to benefit from investment in AI data centres, grid upgrades, and energy infrastructure. Public information shows orders for high-voltage transformers, cables, and ESS continue to grow across North America and Asia, with particularly strong expansion in Southeast Asia. Sales from subsidiaries in Vietnam and Indonesia have also accelerated. As AI data centre construction expands, market attention remains on copper demand linked to cables, power equipment, and grid upgrades.

The International Copper Association (ICA) announced that Indonesian mining and copper smelting company PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) has officially joined the association, becoming the first member headquartered in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has been accelerating downstream copper processing and domestic smelting expansion in recent years, strengthening Southeast Asia’s role in the global copper supply chain. Increasing investment in copper smelting, fabrication and energy-transition related sectors is also reinforcing the region’s importance in refined copper supply, copper product exports, and demand from AI infrastructure and power grid development.

【SMM Copper Cathode Rod News】Inventory: Raw material inventory declined as enterprises restocked only on an as-needed basis without concentrated restocking after the holiday. Finished product inventories saw slight destocking as warehouse withdrawals outpaced restocking due to the holiday market closure and equipment maintenance. SMM expects enterprises to resume normal production after the holiday, with operating rates up 3.07 percentage points WoW. However, elevated copper prices are suppressing procurement, and operating rates still face the risk of falling short of expectations.

【SMM Copper Cathode Rod News Flash】The operating rate of copper cathode rod producers fell 5.77 percentage points WoW to 60.58% this week. The extended Labour Day holiday and production cuts put pressure on operations. After the holiday, copper prices rose but downstream orders remained stable. Orders in the wire & cable and enamelled wire industries were steady after the holiday, with operating rates pulling back notably.

French energy technology firm Schneider Electric said it plans to establish a Southeast Asia regional training centre in Malaysia in 2026, as rapid expansion of AI infrastructure continues to drive power demand growth across the region. The data centre capacity in Southeast Asia is projected to triple by 2030. Within this expansion, Malaysia is rapidly positioning itself as a pivotal regional hub for AI infrastructure, attracting investments in recent years from major technology companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Google. Market participants believe rising demand for AI servers, power systems and cooling infrastructure will continue to support regional copper consumption growth, particularly in Johor, Malaysia, which is becoming one of Southeast Asia’s key data centre clusters.

[SMM Shanghai Spot Copper] Outlook for next week: Shanghai spot copper premiums continued under pressure during the day. Suppliers consecutively lowered their offers throughout the day, with the premium center shifting notably downward, reflecting limited downstream acceptance of high copper prices and premiums, with purchasing driven mainly by rigid demand. In addition, the Shanghai-Guangdong price spread stayed high, with theoretical arbitrage opportunities persisting, which may attract east China cargo to be diverted to south China, diverting available cargo from the Shanghai market and providing some support for local spot discounts. Notably, next Friday is the delivery day for the May contract, and delivery logic is gradually emerging, which may provide bottom support for spot premiums. Overall, Shanghai spot copper premiums are expected to remain under pressure, but downside room is expected to be supported by delivery expectations.

On May 14-15, 2026, the SMM WCCE 2026 (4th) Wire & Cable Industry Development Conference and Industrial Exhibition will grandly open at the Suzhou International Conference Hotel, focusing on precise matchmaking across the cable industry chain. With full-chain resource integration and efficient supply-demand matching at its core, the exhibition builds a quality bridge for business negotiations and technical exchanges for industry partners. Rooted in the deep processing of copper-based new materials, focusing on high performance copper semis R&D and high-end copper conductor intelligent manufacturing, Aerospace (Yichang) Copper Technology Co., Ltd. is dedicated to process innovation and quality upgrading. The company will showcase core products including oxygen-free copper, low-oxygen copper, and copper-based alloys at the exhibition, demonstrating hardcore strength with aerospace-grade scientific and technological innovation processes, and joining forces with precision-crafted products to promote industrial synergy and jointly explore new frontiers of high-quality development in the copper semis industry. Aerospace Electric Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Aerospace Electric") was founded in 1956, with a registered capital of 637 million yuan, total assets of 4.654 billion yuan, and over 1,800 employees, including 2 State Council Special Allowance experts and over 100 professionals with intermediate and senior titles. Products cover new energy power generation cables (wind power, PV); mine flame-retardant cables; rail transit power cables; NEV high-voltage cables and charging piles cables; general rubber-sheathed cables; power cables of 35KV and below; JP cables for aviation, aerospace, and naval vessels; overhead conductors (ground wires); environmental protection wiring; and copper rod and round copper wire for electrical use. On April 29, 2025, Aerospace (Yichang) Copper Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Aerospace Copper) was established, dedicated to building a leading high performance copper semis manufacturing enterprise in China . The company is located in Baiyang Logistics Park, High-tech Zone, Yichang City, and is controlled by Aerospace Electric Group Co., Ltd. The Phase I project of Aerospace Copper focuses on the copper rod processing sector , specializing in two core products: upward continuous casting oxygen-free copper and continuous casting and rolling low-oxygen copper . Leveraging domestically advanced production lines, the company currently has 69 employees and possesses an annual processing capacity of 120,000 mt of copper rod. Its equipment automation level is industry-leading, with an annual output value exceeding 7 billion yuan. On July 30, 2025, the upward continuous casting production line of Aerospace Copper successfully started production. On August 15, 2025, the upward continuous casting production line successfully produced its first rod. On September 19, 2025, the continuous casting and rolling production line of Aerospace Copper successfully started production. On November 20, 2025, the continuous casting and rolling production line completed trial rod production. On November 23, 2025, the continuous casting and rolling production line officially produced rod. This marked that the Phase I project of Aerospace Copper is about to be fully completed and put into operation. In 2026, Aerospace Copper will gradually advance the construction of its Phase II project, building an entire industry chain encompassing R&D and production of copper conductors and copper-based alloys with cross-sections below 1,000mm² . The target is to achieve annual sales revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan, with completion and commissioning planned for October 2026, injecting strong momentum into the development of the wire and cable industry cluster in the Yijingjing'en metropolitan area. Aerospace Copper adheres to innovation-driven development, engaging in deep cooperation with universities such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology and China Three Gorges University to promote product upgrades and achieve localisation substitution in the copper alloy field. Meanwhile, the company advances intelligent and information-based equipment construction and cultivates high-quality technical talent. The company has established a comprehensive talent development system, providing skills training, dual channels for career advancement, and competitive compensation and benefits, creating a broad development platform for employees. Aerospace (Yichang) Copper Technology Co., Ltd., with quality as its foundation and innovation as its wings, continuously provides high-quality products to clients and co-creates value with partners! May 14-15, 2026, Jiangsu · Suzhou International Conference Hotel . Friends from all sectors are welcome to attend the conference in person and visit the booth of Aerospace (Yichang) Copper Technology Co., Ltd. (E16) to experience up close the technological strength and product appeal of this cable equipment R&D enterprise, explore new cooperation opportunities together, and open a new chapter for the industry. SMM WCCE 2026 (4th) Wire & Cable Industry Development Conference and Industrial Exhibition May 14-15 Jiangsu · Suzhou International Conference Hotel Participating enterprises: Qifan Cable, Kunyi Cable, Senyuan Cable, Sanwu Cable, Huili Cable, Wanma Co., Ltd., Xinhai High Conductivity, Chenfeng Yongliang, Xinhuang Group, Dongwu Futures, Guojia Conductor, Hongxing Meike, Dongfeng Cable, Qijia Industry, Beijing Shougang Ferroalloy, Xinhongye, Yingtan Chaolong, Meichuangli, Jiuli Electric, Xinzi Nengke, Xindongang Electric, Aerospace Electric, Guochu Logistics, Jielüda, Jinhuijia, Xindian Aluminum Alloy, Gangwei Ultrasonic, Jinrui Qianyuan...... Click to View ☛ ｜