铜行业周报：4月废铜进口量同比下降7%，8月空调排产同比增长2.7%

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the copper industry [6]. Core Viewpoints - The macroeconomic outlook is improving, which is expected to support copper price increases. As of May 30, 2025, SHFE copper closed at 77,600 RMB/ton, down 0.2% from May 23, while LME copper closed at 9,497 USD/ton, also down 0.24% [1]. - Supply-side disruptions in copper mining are increasing, leading to overall supply tightness. Demand is expected to weaken as the inventory replenishment effect from tariffs diminishes and the domestic market enters a seasonal slowdown [1]. - The report anticipates that copper prices will stabilize in the short term but may rise gradually following domestic stimulus policies and potential interest rate cuts in the U.S. [1]. Summary by Sections Inventory - Domestic copper social inventory decreased by 1% week-on-week, while LME copper inventory fell by 9% [2]. - As of May 30, 2025, domestic port copper concentrate inventory was 796,000 tons, up 2% from the previous week [2]. - Global electrolytic copper inventory totaled 436,000 tons as of May 23, 2025, down 3.5% week-on-week [2]. Supply - In April, imported scrap copper was 168,000 tons, up 7% month-on-month but down 7% year-on-year [2]. - In March 2025, China's copper concentrate production was 157,000 tons, up 25.4% month-on-month and 6.9% year-on-year [2]. - The price difference between electrolytic copper and scrap copper was 1,142 RMB/ton as of May 30, 2025, up 275 RMB/ton from May 23 [2]. Smelting - Domestic electrolytic copper production in May was 1.1383 million tons, up 1.1% month-on-month and 12.9% year-on-year [3]. - The spot price of TC was -43.45 USD/pound as of May 30, 2025, still at a low level since September 2007 [3]. - Net imports of electrolytic copper from January to April totaled 897,000 tons, down 17.7% year-on-year [3]. Demand - The cable industry's operating rate decreased by 3.7 percentage points week-on-week, while air conditioning production in August is expected to grow by 2.7% year-on-year [3]. - The cable sector accounts for approximately 31% of domestic copper demand, with the operating rate at 78.67% as of May 29, 2025 [3]. - Air conditioning production is projected to increase by 11.5%, 6.3%, and 2.7% in June, July, and August respectively [3]. Futures - SHFE copper active contract positions increased by 19% week-on-week, while COMEX non-commercial net long positions rose by 7% [4]. - As of May 30, 2025, SHFE copper active contract positions were 173,000 lots, up 19.4% from the previous week [4]. - The report suggests that copper prices are likely to rise in 2025 due to tightening supply and improving demand [4]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends stocks such as Jincheng Mining, Zijin Mining, Luoyang Molybdenum, and Western Mining, while also suggesting to pay attention to Minmetals Resources [4].