铜条走红！昔日“破铜烂铁”变身“硬通货”？记者探访

Core Viewpoint - The recent rise in popularity of "investment copper bars" in social media reflects a significant shift in market interest towards copper as a viable investment option, following the soaring prices of gold and silver [1][3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Shenzhen Shui Bei market, known as China's largest gold and jewelry distribution center, has seen merchants pivot towards copper following record highs in gold and silver prices [3]. - The introduction of investment copper bars, with a purity of 999.9 and weighing 1 kilogram, is being marketed at prices ranging from 200 to 300 yuan [3]. - Sales of investment copper bars have surged, with some merchants reporting an average daily sale of around 100 bars, totaling over a thousand bars sold in just a few weeks [3]. Group 2: Price Trends - The primary driver for the emergence of investment copper bars is the substantial increase in copper prices, with the London Metal Exchange copper price rising over 40% in 2025 and continuing to increase by nearly 4% in 2026 [5]. - On January 14, the price of copper reached a historic high of $13,407 per ton [5]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - Despite the growing interest, the Shenzhen Shui Bei market has officially prohibited the sale of copper bars, as they fall outside the scope of its core business focused on gold and jewelry [6]. - Some merchants are still facilitating private transactions of copper bars, even though they are not publicly displayed in the market [6].