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The increase in premiums for copper cathode imported to China slowed in the week to Tuesday August 13 amid less favorable import conditions and cautious buying after the recent rises, Fastmarkets learned.
Fastmarkets assessed the daily benchmark copper grade A cathode premium, cif Shanghai at $50-68 per tonne on Tuesday, up by $5-7 per tonne from $45-61 per tonne on August 6.
Fastmarkets’ assessment of the daily copper grade A cathode premium, in-whs Shanghai was $45-65 per tonne on Tuesday, up by $5-7 per tonne from $40-58 per tonne a week ago.
Offers remained elevated, but spot buying interest fell, with buyers unwilling to purchase at high premiums, especially when import arbitrage conditions were less favorable, participants said.
“Offers stayed high, with some buyers looking for spot units, but they were not in keen to buy at $70s [per tonne], reducing spot liquidity [from a week earlier],” a Shanghai-based copper trader said.
However, market participants were more interested in buying equivalent-grade (EQ) copper cathode, with deals being concluded at higher premiums, Fastmarkets learned.
“[There were] brisk inquiries for EQ units, [and] I sold some at $30 [per tonne], and kept receiving buying interest from my clients [this week],” a second trader in Shanghai added.
Fastmarkets assessed the weekly copper EQ cathode premium, cif Shanghai at $20-30 per tonne on Tuesday, up by $5-10 per tonne from $10-25 per tonne a week earlier.
Market inquiries have risen since import arbitrage conditions improved last week, with spot supply constrained by ongoing shipping delays from Africa, fueling the market.
In the Southeast Asian copper market, minimal spot liquidity was heard due to slack demand, participants said.
“The [Southeast Asian copper] market is silent, very quiet, [and] spot demand is muted,” a third trader in Singapore said.
Fastmarkets assessed the weekly copper grade A cathode premium, cif Southeast Asia at $70-80 per tonne on Tuesday, unchanged from a week prior.
Fastmarkets’ assessment of the copper EQ cathode premium, cif Southeast Asia was also flat week on week at $0-10 per tonne on Tuesday.
Fastmarkets’ copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US was flat at 11-13 cents per lb on August 13, unchanged since July 23.
Inputs were collected in a range of 11-13.5 cents per lb. Although a sale was reported at 13.5 cents, other market participants believe the market may be beginning to show signs of softening, with most participants reporting that the market remains in the assessed range.
“Copper is softening a little, but still holding at a delivered Midwest average of 12 cents [per lb],” one seller said.
“I have not seen any changes, but have heard copper is freely offered, which can put downward pressure on premium,” a trader said.
A second trader said that the market has been stable.
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