The weekly average price spread between raw metal and scrap (including tax) was 1,688 yuan/t, narrowing 39 yuan/t from 1,727 yuan/t the previous week.

However, tight raw material supply does not push up demand for raw material stocks from secondary copper bar manufacturing enterprises.

According to the interviewed companies, the current operating rate of wire and cable manufacturing enterprises is estimated at 40% in Southern China, 60% in Eastern China, and about 70% in Southwest China.

With insufficient downstream demand, even the tight supply of secondary copper raw materials is not a concern for secondary copper bar manufacturers, they just maintain timely procurement activities during the week.

On the import side, it was mentioned last week that some import traders have continued to import secondary copper raw materials from the US.

However, this week, US President Donald Trump announced an additional 10% tariff on all imports from China, bringing the total additional tariffs the US has imposed on Chinese goods this year to 20%.

Then, secondary copper raw material importers may once again suspend imports from the US, putting China's secondary copper raw material supply at significant risk this year.