According to SMM research, strict entry regulations (Energy Commission/SIRIM) initially created a protective "moat" for Malaysian copper rod plants, as high compliance costs made imports uncompetitive. However, as overseas supply volumes grow, these upfront costs are being amortized, making imported rods highly price-competitive. Coupled with foreign firms accelerating their overseas expansion, local plants are feeling the squeeze. Impacted by this cost-effective external supply, domestic producers report dropping orders and are forced to slash quotes to defend market share. This local price war is expected to escalate further as direct exports to Malaysia continue to climb.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,489/mt, initially rising to $13,533.5/mt before the price center gradually shifted lower to $13,386/mt, ultimately closing at $13,427/mt, down 1.2%. Trading volume reached 20,000 lots, and open interest stood at 277,000 lots, a decrease of 6,463 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls reducing positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 104,130 yuan/mt, initially touching a high of 104,170 yuan/mt before the price center shifted lower to a low of 103,390 yuan/mt, ultimately moving sideways to close at 103,670 yuan/mt, down 0.82%. Trading volume reached 31,000 lots, and open interest stood at 143,000 lots, a decrease of 4,124 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls reducing positions.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,477/mt, dipped to a low of $13,436/mt in early trading, then the price center gradually shifted upward to reach $13,625/mt, and finally moved sideways at high levels to close at $13,590/mt, up 0.34%, with trading volume at 24,000 lots and open interest at 283,000 lots, an increase of 2,099 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 104,480 yuan/mt, touched a high of 104,840 yuan/mt in early trading, then the price center shifted slightly lower to a low of 104,440 yuan/mt, and finally moved sideways to close at 104,590 yuan/mt, up 0.28%, with trading volume at 30,000 lots and open interest at 154,000 lots, a decrease of 3,110 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears reducing positions.

In April 2026, the secondary copper rod operating rate was 12.79%, higher than the expected 11.93%, down 1.46 percentage points MoM and 21.1 percentage points YoY. Looking back at the entire month of April, the secondary copper rod market, under the prevailing theme of copper prices fluctuating upward, was mired in structural contradictions triggered by industrial policies,...

[SMM Analysis: High Copper Prices Led to Slow Shipments and Sluggish Raw Material Consumption at Secondary Copper Rod Enterprises] According to SMM data, the operating rate of secondary copper rod was 6.84% this week, up 0.08 percentage points WoW and down 15.03 percentage points YoY. Meanwhile, the average price difference between copper cathode rod and secondary copper rod was 1,914 yuan/mt, widening by 549 yuan/mt WoW. In addition, the average discount of secondary copper rod in Jiangxi against copper futures was 1,518 yuan/mt, widening by 773 yuan/mt WoW. Based on SMM's secondary copper rod gross profit model, the average gross profit during the week was 857 yuan/mt, an increase of 477 yuan/mt......

SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Overnight, LME copper opened at $14,043/mt, touched a high of $14,077/mt in early trading, then the copper price center gradually shifted lower to probe $13,917.5/mt, followed by wild swings before finally closing at $13,986/mt, down 0.7%, with trading volume at 22,000 lots and open interest at 277,000 lots, an increase of 2,465 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears reducing positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 107,250 yuan/mt, immediately touched a high of 107,320 yuan/mt in early trading, then the copper price center quickly shifted lower to probe 106,690 yuan/mt, followed by a rise amid wild swings before finally closing at 107,024 yuan/mt, down 0.35%, with trading volume at 39,000 lots and open interest at 184,000 lots, a decrease of 4,131 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls reducing positions.

SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Overnight, LME copper opened at $14,142/mt. Early in the session, the copper price center gradually shifted lower to $14,058/mt, then swung wildly upward to touch a high of $14,175/mt, before fluctuating downward to finally close at $14,083/mt, up 0.02%, with trading volume at 22,600 lots and open interest at 275,000 lots, an increase of 1,876 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at and touched a low of 108,110 yuan/mt, then fluctuated upward to probe 10,980 yuan/mt, followed by wild swings to finally close at 108,520 yuan/mt, up 0.38%, with trading volume at 45,000 lots and open interest at 201,000 lots, a decrease of 3,326 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears reducing positions.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at and dipped below $13,693.5/mt, moved sideways at the beginning of the session, then the copper price center fluctuated upward and probed up to $13,969/mt near the end of the session, before fluctuating downward to finally close at $13,920/mt, up 2.84%, with trading volume at 26,800 lots and open interest at 272,000 lots, an increase of 1,201 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 105,500 yuan/mt, dipped to 105,390 yuan/mt at the beginning of the session, then the copper price center gradually shifted upward and touched a high of 107,350 yuan/mt near the end of the session, before fluctuating downward to finally close at 106,770 yuan/mt, up 2.35%, with trading volume at 75,900 lots and open interest at 209,000 lots, an increase of 4,829 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Last Friday evening, LME copper opened at $13,522.5/mt, fluctuated downward to $13,484.5/mt in early trading, then experienced wild swings reaching a high of $13,583/mt, before fluctuating downward to finally close at $13,535.5/mt, up 1.59%, with trading volume at 29,500 lots and open interest at 271,000 lots, down 1,154 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears cutting positions. Last Friday evening, the most-traded SHFE copper 2606 contract opened at 104,500 yuan/mt, rose to 104,580 yuan/mt in early trading, then fluctuated downward to 103,690 yuan/mt, moved sideways near the end of the session to finally close at 104,200 yuan/mt, up 0.53%, with trading volume at 50,000 lots and open interest at 208,000 lots, down 1,584 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears cutting positions.

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 ☛ ｜