中美经贸谈判缓和和铜矿供给预期偏紧支撑铜价

Report Title - Nonferrous Metals Weekly - Copper [1] Report Core View - Sino-US economic and trade negotiation easing and expected tight supply of copper mines support copper prices. The expectation of future interest rate cuts and the end of balance sheet reduction by the Fed, the preliminary agreement reached in Sino-US economic and trade negotiations, and production disruptions in multiple overseas copper mines may lead to a cautiously bullish trend in Shanghai copper prices. It is recommended that investors mainly lay out long positions when prices decline, and pay attention to support and pressure levels for different copper contracts [2][3]. Group 1: Spread and Inventory Situation - The basis of Shanghai copper is negative and at a relatively low level, while the monthly spread is positive and basically within a reasonable range. Due to high copper prices suppressing downstream demand and leading to mainly rigid - demand purchases, but considering the Fed's future interest rate cut and end of balance sheet reduction expectations, continuous tight global copper concentrate supply, and more maintenance capacity of domestic copper smelters in October, investors are advised to pay attention to short - term, light - position, low - buying arbitrage opportunities for the basis of Shanghai copper [9]. - The (0 - 3) contract spread of LME copper is negative and basically within a reasonable range, and the (3 - 15) contract spread is positive and at a relatively high level. The ratio of Shanghai - LME copper prices is at the 50% quantile of the past five years. Due to the continuous accumulation of overseas electrolytic copper inventory, but with an increase in the expected number of future interest rate cuts by the Fed and continuous tight global copper concentrate supply, investors are advised to temporarily wait and see for arbitrage opportunities in the (0 - 3) and (3 - 15) contract spreads of LME copper [10]. - The spread between near - and far - month contracts of COMEX copper is negative and basically within a reasonable range; the spread between LME copper and Shanghai copper, and between COMEX copper and Shanghai copper is positive and basically within a reasonable range, while the spread between COMEX copper and LME copper is negative and basically within a reasonable range. This is because the inventory of COMEX copper is at a high level and still accumulating, and future South American electrolytic copper may still be transported to the US [12]. - The closing prices of near - and far - month contracts of Shanghai copper show a Back structure, while those of COMEX copper show a Contango structure [14]. - The closure of the import window may limit the import volume of domestic electrolytic copper, resulting in a decrease in the inventory of electrolytic copper in China's bonded areas compared with last week, an increase in China's social inventory of electrolytic copper, and a decrease in the inventory of electrolytic copper in the London Metal Exchange [19]. - The ratio of non - commercial long to short positions in COMEX copper decreased month - on - month. Both non - commercial long and short positions increased, as did commercial long and short positions [22]. Group 2: Mid - upstream Supply Situation - The inventory of copper concentrates at Chinese ports decreased compared with last week. The large - scale wet ore spill accident at Freeport's Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia on September 8 may reduce the copper and gold production in 2026 by about 35% compared with pre - accident estimates, which may lead to a month - on - month decrease in the production (import) of domestic copper concentrates in October. The Chinese copper concentrate import index is negative and decreased compared with last week, and the port copper concentrate out - port (in - port, inventory) volume in the world (China) increased (decreased, decreased) compared with last week [27][29]. - The positive spread between refined and scrap copper in China may boost the economy of scrap copper. Due to restrictions on the export of high - quality scrap copper in Europe, uncertainties in Sino - US tariff negotiations, and a positive spread between domestic electrolytic copper and bright and aged scrap copper, the production (import) of domestic scrap copper in October may increase (decrease) month - on - month, and the supply - demand is expected to be tight [30][32]. - The 1st smelting furnace of Jiangxi Keli Copper Industry's 150,000 - ton anode plate project was ignited on August 11. The weekly processing fees for crude copper in northern (southern) China decreased month - on - month, and the rough - smelting maintenance capacity of domestic smelters in October may increase month - on - month, which may lead to a month - on - month decrease in the production (import) of domestic crude copper in October [33]. - The weekly capacity utilization rate of China's scrap - produced anode plates decreased compared with last week, and the processing fees for anode plates also decreased [35][37]. - The production (import) of China's electrolytic copper in October may decrease month - on - month. Although some new domestic projects are under construction, domestic production may decrease in October. Overseas, due to maintenance and project construction progress, the import volume may also decrease [38][40]. Group 3: Downstream Demand Situation - The capacity utilization rate of domestic refined (recycled) copper rods decreased (increased) compared with last week. The daily processing fees for refined copper rods for power and enameled wire in East China decreased, leading to a decrease (increase) in the capacity utilization rate of refined (recycled) copper rods. The raw material (finished product) inventory of refined copper rod enterprises decreased (increased), and that of recycled copper rod enterprises also decreased (increased). The capacity utilization rate (production, import, export) of domestic copper product enterprises in October decreased (decreased, decreased, decreased) month - on - month [44][46]. - The capacity utilization rate of China's copper wire and cable increased compared with last week, and the raw material (finished product) inventory decreased. The capacity utilization rate of copper wire and cable in October may increase month - on - month due to stable orders in the automotive wiring harness and expected release of construction and power grid orders [57][64]. - The order volume and capacity utilization rate of China's copper enameled wire increased compared with last week, and the raw material (finished product) inventory days decreased. The capacity utilization rate of copper enameled wire in October may increase month - on - month because of stable orders in new energy and transformers, and a warming expectation in the home appliance demand, although high copper prices suppress new orders [61][64]. - The weekly processing fees for China's brass plate and strip decreased, and the capacity utilization rate (production) of copper plate and strip samples decreased (decreased) compared with last week. The raw material (finished product) inventory days decreased (increased). However, the capacity utilization rate of copper plate and strip in October may increase month - on - month due to good demand in new energy vehicles, power, and high - end electronics despite weak demand in home appliances and photovoltaics [66][74]. - The processing fees for China's lithium - ion (HTE) copper foil remained flat (increased) compared with last week. The capacity utilization rate of copper foil in October may increase month - on - month because of a significant increase in the demand for HVLP ultra - low profile copper foil in the AI field, saturating the orders of many copper foil enterprises [68][74]. - The capacity utilization rate of China's copper tube samples increased compared with last week, and the raw material (finished product) inventory days decreased. However, the capacity utilization rate of copper tubes in October may decrease month - on - month due to the slow recovery of demand in the refrigeration industry and weak demand in the real estate and infrastructure sectors [76][83]. - The capacity utilization rate of China's brass rod samples increased compared with last week, and the raw material (finished product) inventory days decreased. However, the capacity utilization rate of brass rods in October may decrease month - on - month due to the slow recovery of demand in the refrigeration industry and weak demand in the real estate and infrastructure sectors [78][83].