[Spot Discounts Widened During the Week; Watch Next Week’s Recovery]: This week, spot discounts in Shanghai stayed at low levels, with the weekly average price up 5 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, standard domestic brands were at a discount of 70 to 60 yuan/mt against the 2604 contract, while the high-priced brand Shuangyan was quoted at a premium of 0 to 30 yuan/mt against the 2604 contract..

[Downstream Held Some Raw Material Inventory; Trading Remained Weak During the Week]: This week, spot discounts in Ningbo widened, while the weekly average price was basically flat WoW. As of this Friday, spot prices in Ningbo against the 2604 contract were at a discount of 70 yuan/mt, and a premium of 30 yuan/mt against Shanghai. The premium against Shanghai fluctuated during the week.

Looking ahead to next week, spot discounts for Shanghai spot copper are expected to continue a steady recovery trend. From the market structure perspective, the price spread between futures contracts for the next-month C contract remains around 300 yuan/mt, prompting suppliers to hold prices firm and withhold sales; meanwhile, the downward shift in the center of copper prices has effectively stimulated downstream purchase willingness, driving a notable rise in spot premiums. Supply side, domestically produced copper and previously price-locked imported cargoes continue to arrive, and with social inventory at elevated levels, overall circulating supply in the market remains ample.

[SMM Shanghai Spot Copper] Looking ahead to next week, spot discounts for Shanghai spot copper are expected to continue a steady recovery. From the market structure perspective, the price spread between futures contracts for the next-month C contract remained around 300 yuan/mt, prompting suppliers to hold prices firm and withhold sales. Meanwhile, the downward shift in the center of copper prices effectively stimulated downstream purchase willingness, driving a notable rise in spot premiums. Supply side, domestic copper and previously price-locked imported cargo continued to arrive, and with social inventory at elevated levels, overall circulating supply in the market remained ample. Under the combined effects of suppliers holding prices firm and downstream buying the dip, the momentum for the recovery in spot discounts is expected to continue.

SMM News on March 6: This week, secondary lead premiums showed clear regional divergence, with parity prevailing overall, and most suppliers refusing to ship at a discount; only some cargoes in South China and Central China were offered at a discount of 100-50 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price. In terms of profits, scrap battery prices stayed firm, making it difficult for smelters to reduce costs, and industry losses continued. As of March 6, 2026, the theoretical comprehensive profit/loss for large-scale enterprises was -330 yuan/mt, and -543 yuan/mt for small and medium-sized enterprises (by-product revenue in the model excluded tin and antimony). Looking into next week, SMM expected supply tightness in raw materials to persist, leading the secondary lead operating rate to maintain its downward trend; under loss pressure, suppliers were likely to narrow discounts or keep parity offers, while downstream battery producers still made just-in-time procurement on a wait-and-see basis, resulting in relatively light market transactions. 》Subscribe to view SMM metal spot historical prices

[Guangdong Premiums Weakened; Watch for Subsequent Changes in Consumption] This week, premiums in Guangdong fell by about 5 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, mainstream 0# zinc was quoted at a discount of 100 yuan/mt in Guangdong, and the Shanghai-Guangdong price spread narrowed......

In the spot market, during this week (March 2, 2026–March 6, 2026), post-holiday social inventory of primary lead continued a slight upward trend. Downstream buyers still mainly picked up goods under long-term contracts and worked down pre-holiday inventory, and overall spot transactions remained sluggish. This week, refined lead supply in Henan increased steadily, with suppliers concluding deals at a discount of 230 yuan/mt against the SHFE lead 2604 contract or at a discount of 50–0 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price. In Hunan, smelter supply had not yet fully recovered, suppliers’ offers were relatively firm, and spot transactions were at a slight premium of 0–30 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price.

[Downstream Operations Were Still Resuming, and Market Trading Was Better Than Last Week]: Spot premiums in Tianjin rose slightly this week, up 20 yuan/mt WoW. As of this Friday, mainstream domestic brands were quoted at discounts of around 20-100 yuan/mt against the 2604 contract, while high-priced brands were quoted at discounts of around 20-50 yuan/mt against the 2604 contract. Tianjin was quoted at a discount of around 10 yuan/mt against Shanghai, the Shanghai-Tianjin price spread narrowed, and contract rollover quotes were offered this week.

Today, the average spot prices of #1 copper cathode in North China against the front-month contract were at a discount of 280 yuan/mt, up 20 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, while the average transaction price was 101,300 yuan/mt, down 40 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

Today, in North China, spot #1 copper cathode prices against the front-month contract were at a discount of 250–130 yuan/mt. The average premium/discount rose by 90 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, while the average transaction price was 100,845 yuan/mt, down 455 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.