铜价继续狂飙，谁点燃了这波“铜牛”行情？

Market Trends - On December 4, copper prices surged, with the main CU2601 contract reaching over 91,000 yuan/ton, a rise of approximately 2.7% from the previous closing price, closing at 90,980 yuan/ton, up 2.26% [1] - The spot market also saw significant increases, with the average price of 1 copper in the Yangtze River reported at 91,260 yuan/ton, a jump of 2,110 yuan, and the Guangdong region's price at 91,270 yuan/ton, nearly 2,000 yuan higher [1] - LME data indicated a net cancellation of copper warehouse receipts in Asian warehouses of 50,725 tons, bringing the total registered warehouse receipts to the lowest level since July at 105,275 tons [1] Driving Forces Behind Copper Price Increase Macro Factors - The dollar index has fallen over 8% this year, with market expectations for another interest rate cut in December exceeding 84%, leading to a shift of funds from bonds and deposits to tangible assets like copper [4] - Copper is increasingly viewed as a "hard currency" during the interest rate cut cycle, becoming a new focal point for capital [4] Policy Factors - The U.S. initiated a "232 investigation" in February 2025, with expectations of tariffs on imported copper potentially reaching 25%, prompting a rush of over 540,000 tons of refined copper to the U.S. from March to May, equivalent to 60% of last year's total imports [5] - U.S. COMEX copper inventories surged to over 400,000 tons, a 300% increase from the end of last year, despite the U.S. only consuming 7% of global copper [5] Supply Factors - Major issues in copper mining include rising prices from Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, which quoted prices to Chinese buyers at 335-350 USD/ton for 2026, a 275% increase from 89 USD in 2025 [6] - Domestic smelters are planning production cuts due to low processing fees, with a consensus to reduce production by over 10% in 2026, equating to a loss of over 1 million tons of capacity [6] Demand Factors - The demand for copper is shifting from traditional sectors like real estate and home appliances to new energy and technology sectors, with electric vehicles using 3-4 times more copper than traditional cars [9] - Key drivers of copper demand include renewable energy projects, AI data centers, and global grid upgrades, indicating a robust long-term consumption outlook [9] Inventory Dynamics - The current copper market is characterized by a significant concentration of inventory in the U.S., with global stocks declining in China, Asia, and Europe [10] - Traders are withdrawing copper from LME warehouses in Asia to ship to the U.S. due to a price differential of 200-400 USD/ton, leading to tighter availability in non-U.S. markets [10] Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that the core drivers of copper prices from September to December are supply tightness and demand expectations, indicating that prices may become increasingly difficult to decrease [11] - The ongoing tight supply and strong demand fundamentals suggest that copper prices are likely to remain elevated, with potential for volatility due to market sentiment [12] - The anticipated reduction in copper production capacity and ongoing demand from new energy sectors are expected to keep the market dynamics favorable for price increases [15]