On March 13, 2026, China's copper smelting industry set a new historical record. According to SMM data, the imported copper concentrate index closed at -60.39 USD/dmt, officially breaking through the -60 USD level.

[SMM Copper Market] Since 2026, as copper prices have trended higher and the price difference between primary metal and scrap has widened, copper scrap has continued to flow into the smelting sector. Copper smelters in China have seen an increase in their inventory levels of cold materials, leading to a looser supply landscape in the cold materials market. As of February 27, 2026, SMM's spot RCs for blister copper and anode plates in China remained at high levels.

The operating rate for secondary copper rod was 20.17% in January 2026, exceeding the expected 18.56%, but decreased 0.25 percentage points MoM and 6.73 percentage points YoY. China's secondary copper rod market experienced a month of contradictions and stalemate amid unprecedented high copper prices and complex policy environments.

SMM Analysis: In January 2026, blister copper RCs in south China were quoted at 1,900–2,200 yuan/mt, with an average of 2,050 yuan/mt, up 550 yuan/mt MoM...

In January 2026, silver production increased by about 0.6% MoM and 9.91% YoY compared to January 2025.

On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Rare and Scattered Metals Forum (Indium, Germanium, Gallium, Bismuth, Selenium, Tellurium), hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Long Wensheng, General Manager of Changsha Aochang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., elaborated on "The Current Application Status and Future Prospects of Minor Metal Selenium.

On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Rare and Scattered Metals Forum (Indium, Germanium, Gallium, Bismuth, Selenium, Tellurium), hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Long Wensheng, General Manager of Changsha Aochang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., elaborated on "The Current Application Status and Future Prospects of Minor Metal Selenium.

Date Set! 2025 SMM Copper Conference will be officially held from October 15-17! Register Now The conference will focus on technological breakthroughs, market trends, policy coordination, and international cooperation within the copper industry chain. It will feature keynote speeches, industry matchmaking, project signings, technology exhibition, and other sessions. We sincerely invite leading enterprises, research institutions, financial institutions, and industry experts from both domestic and overseas markets to participate and jointly explore new paths for the coordinated development of the industry chain. Conference Highlights Copper Industry Gathering The SMM Copper Conference is an annual grand event for the copper industry, bringing together industry leaders, traders, analysts, and other professionals from around the world. Participants have the opportunity to discuss and understand the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the copper market. SMM Copper Industry Carnival Gala Dinner The Copper Metal Carnival Gala Dinner is the social highlight of the annual conference, exclusively for invited VIP guests. It provides a unique networking opportunity and is one of the most important social events in the metal industry. Data & Analysis The SMM Copper Conference offers a wealth of market data and analytical reports to help participants gain in-depth insights into market dynamics and future trends. Participants can access detailed data and insights on copper metal prices, trading volumes, warehousing conditions, and more. Cutting-Edge Topic Discussions The Copper Conference includes multiple panel discussions and speeches covering a wide range of topics, from market forecasting to technological innovation, supply chain management, and the use of financial instruments. Through these discussions, participants can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the industry and practical insights. Global Perspective & International Collaboration The conference will explore the current state and future development trends of the metal industry from a global perspective, promoting international cooperation and exchanges. It features an online 1V1 appointment system to facilitate global participants in arranging meetings and exchanges. It serves as a centralized communication platform for long-term contract negotiations among upstream and downstream participants in the metal mining, smelting, and trading sectors. Register to Attend Target Attendees Downstream industries of copper mining, smelting, processing, and end-use applications · Copper Raw Material Sector Copper Mining Enterprises · Third-Party Service Providers Processing equipment, environmental protection equipment, automation equipment, etc. · Others Government, associations, industry experts, university research institutions, financial institutions, media, platforms, associations, futures companies, securities firms, and banks. · Copper Smelting Sector Copper Smelters · End-Use Sector Electronics, electrical, automotive parts, semiconductors, cables, circuit boards, PV, batteries, etc. · Processing Sector Copper rod, copper plate/sheet and strip, copper billet, copper busbar, copper pipe & tube, copper foil Register to Attend Overall Schedule Conference Agenda Forum 1: Precision Copper Processing Intelligent Manufacturing Forum October 15, Afternoon 13:30-14:00 2025 Copper Processing Material Capacity and Industry Analysis 14:00-15:00 Roundtable Discussion: Current Status and Future Trends of Copper Processing in 2025 15:00-15:30 Market Applications and Trends Outlook for Copper Pipes and Rods 15:30-16:00 Direct Rolling Technology for Secondary Copper: A Closed-Loop Path from Scrap to High-End Copper Rods 16:00-17:00 Roundtable Discussion: Where Should the Copper Industry Go Amid Overcapacity? Main Forum October 16, Morning 09:00-09:20 Opening Ceremony Speech 09:20-09:40 Global Copper Industry Chain Supply-Demand Pattern and Price Forecast for 2025 09:40-10:10 China's Copper Resource Strategy and Countermeasures for Overseas Investment Risks 10:10-10:30 Secondary Copper: The Key to Circular Economy for Breaking Resource Constraints 10:30-10:50 Planning for High-Quality Development of China's Copper Industry 10:50-11:10 Tea Break 11:10-12:00 Roundtable Discussion: Breakthroughs in the Copper Industry: Triple Challenges of Resources, Technology, and Markets 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch + Lunch Break Registration Forum II: Key Application Forum for Copper-Based New Materials October 16, Afternoon 13:30-14:00 Current Status and Trends of Global New Energy Development 14:00-14:30 Preparation Technology for New Generation High-Performance Rolled Copper Foil 14:30-15:00 Future Strategies for NEV Products and Application Trends of Green Materials 15:00-16:00 Roundtable Discussion: New Materials and New Applications in Intelligence, AI, Robotics, etc. 16:00-16:30 Effect of Thermomechanical Treatment on the Microstructure and Properties of Cu-Ni-Si Alloy 16:30-17:00 Application of Intelligent Technology in Copper Alloy Design and Strip Processing Forum III: Forum on Low-Carbon Energy Transition in the Copper Industry October 16, Afternoon 13:30-14:00 Interpretation of China's Copper Industry Policies and Transition Pathways under the "Dual Carbon" Goals 14:00-14:30 Innovation Practices in Green Mines and Low-Carbon Smelting Technologies 14:30-15:00 Research on Energy and Carbon Efficiency in Various Links of the Copper Industry 15:00-16:00 Roundtable Discussion: Symbiosis of Metals and Energy 16:00-16:30 Analysis of Costs and Opportunities for Copper Enterprises in the Carbon Trading Market 16:30-17:00 Practical Cases of Revenue from ESS Technologies for Enterprises Registration for Attendance

[SMM Analysis: Strong Profitability of Smelting Acid Supports Copper Smelting Business] SMM believes that the backwardation structure of SHFE will weaken in the future market, and the premise of our following discussion is based on the existing tariff levels in the US.

Every year from June to August marks the conventional maintenance season for primary lead smelters. Most enterprises will halt equipment operations by mid-June, with production expected to significantly decrease in late June. After the maintenance, anode slime raw material inventory will gradually decrease, and precious metal production will enter the maintenance phase by month-end June. Therefore, silver production at some manufacturers may slightly decline in June, but the decline in silver production at lead smelters will mainly occur in July.