Report Industry Investment Rating - Copper: Cautiously bullish [9] - Arbitrage: On hold [9] - Options: short put @77,000 yuan/ton [9] Core Viewpoints - The domestic macro sentiment continues to recover, which is beneficial for the performance of risk assets. However, the US tariff policy may increase future uncertainties. The copper market is currently in a short - term situation of weak supply and demand, so the price is unlikely to show strong performance. Given the tight supply at the mine end, the possibility of a significant decline in copper prices is also limited. It is expected that the copper price will fluctuate between 77,800 yuan/ton and 80,300 yuan/ton next week, and the operation is recommended to focus on buying hedges on dips [9]. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Market News and Important Data Futures Quotes - On July 28, 2025, the main contract of Shanghai copper opened at 79,180 yuan/ton and closed at 79,000 yuan/ton, a decrease of 0.32% from the previous trading day's close. The night - session main contract opened at 79,130 yuan/ton and closed at 79,010 yuan/ton, a 0.04% increase from the afternoon close [1]. Spot Situation - The domestic electrolytic copper spot market remains weak. The SMM1 electrolytic copper is priced at 78,950 - 79,200 yuan/ton, with a premium of 50 - 140 yuan/ton over the current - month contract, and an average premium of 95 yuan/ton, a 30 - yuan drop from the previous day. The Contango structure has narrowed to C40 - C20 yuan/ton. The market shows three characteristics: increased domestic and imported arrivals, significant regional differentiation, and tight supply of wet - process copper with a narrowing price difference between non - standard and standard products. It is expected that the downward space of the spot premium will narrow [2]. Important Information Summary - **Macro and Geopolitical**: The Washington Federal Court rejected the request of an investment company to make the FOMC meeting public. The US Treasury has significantly increased its borrowing estimate for the third quarter to $1.007 trillion. The US and the EU have reached a trade agreement, alleviating market concerns about future uncertainties, but they are still discussing tariff exemptions for wine and spirits. The Fed's interest - rate meeting is coming up, and Trump has called for a rate cut this week [3]. - **Mine End**: First Quantum Minerals is still in negotiation with the Panama government and pays $15 million per month to maintain the shut - down Cobre copper mine, expected to increase to $17 - 18 million by the end of the year. Teck Resources' board has approved a C$2.1 - 2.4 billion ($1.6 - 1.8 billion) expansion project for the Highland Valley copper mine, which will extend its operation to the mid - 2040s, with an average annual output of 137,000 tons of copper [4]. - **Smelting and Import**: A new wave of senior executive departures at Trafigura Group is pressuring its stock - repurchase commitment. The company has postponed about 30% of the stock repurchases originally planned for this year, and the market is worried about potential delays next year [5]. - **Consumption**: The operating rate of the refined copper rod industry has dropped to 69.37%, a 4.85 - percentage - point decline from the previous week, lower than expected. The high copper price has suppressed terminal demand, leading to a "raw - material increase, finished - product accumulation" inventory pattern. The operating rate of the copper cable industry has dropped to 70.83%, a 2.07 - percentage - point decline from the previous week, with the largest year - on - year decline of 15.28 percentage points. SMM expects the operating rate to drop to 70.3% next week [6]. - **Inventory and Warehouse Receipts**: LME warehouse receipts have changed by 3,700 tons to 127,400 tons, SHFE warehouse receipts have changed by 1,699 tons to 17,832 tons. On July 28, the domestic electrolytic copper spot inventory is 120,300 tons, a change of 6,100 tons from the previous week. Last week, LME copper inventory continued to accumulate to 128,475 tons, SHFE copper inventory decreased by 13.17% to 73,423 tons, international copper inventory remained stable at 11,616 tons, and COMEX copper inventory continued to accumulate to 248,635 tons [7][8]. Strategy - **Copper**: Cautiously bullish. The price is expected to fluctuate between 77,800 yuan/ton and 80,300 yuan/ton next week, and it is recommended to buy hedges on dips [9]. - **Arbitrage**: On hold [9]. - **Options**: short put @77,000 yuan/ton [9]. Table 1: Copper Price and Basis Data - **Spot (Premium/Discount)**: The premium of SMM1 copper is 95 yuan, premium copper is 120 yuan, flat - water copper is 65 yuan, and wet - process copper is 5 yuan on July 29, 2025. - **Inventory**: LME inventory is 127,400 tons, SHFE inventory is 73,423 tons, and COMEX inventory is 225,558 tons. - **Warehouse Receipts**: SHFE warehouse receipts are 17,832 tons, and the proportion of LME cancelled warehouse receipts is 14.67%. - **Arbitrage**: The spread of CU10 - CU08 is - 40, CU09 - CU08 is 0, CU09/AL09 is 3.83, CU0/ZN09 is 3.49, the import profit is - 342 yuan, and the Shanghai - London ratio (main contract) is 8.09 [29][30][31].