Copper prices surged to an unprecedented high today, shattering the RMB 110,000/ton barrier for the first time in history.
As of September 1, 2026:
| Market | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Yangtze Spot (1# Copper) | RMB 110,580/ton | ↑ RMB 1,100/ton |
| LME Copper | USD 14,397/ton | ↑ USD 103/ton |
| SHFE 2609 Contract | RMB 109,930/ton | ↑ RMB 850/ton |
| Yangtze A00 Aluminum | RMB 24,110/ton | ↑ RMB 140/ton |
Breaking Through RMB 110,000 - What It Means
Copper has officially entered uncharted territory. Just two weeks ago, the market was celebrating the breach of RMB 108,000. Today, we are looking at RMB 110,580.
For cable buyers, this is a pivotal moment. Copper accounts for 70-80% of cable production costs. At today's price:
| Impact | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Copper cost per km of 3×1.5mm² cable | ~RMB 3,100/km (≈ $435 USD/km) |
| Year-over-year increase | Up ~47% from August 2025 (RMB 75,000/ton) |
What's Driving This Rally?
The record-breaking surge is driven by a confluence of factors:
Supply constraints: Global copper mine output continues to face disruptions, with no major new capacity coming online
Relentless demand: Renewable energy infrastructure, grid upgrades, and EV adoption are consuming copper at an accelerating rate
Weaker dollar: A softer US dollar has provided additional support to dollar-denominated commodities
What This Means for Your Projects
| Challenge | Reality |
|---|---|
| Budget pressure | Every 10% copper price increase adds ~7-8% to your cable cost |
| Quote validity | Suppliers may shorten quote validity - act fast |
| Project margins | Fixed-bid projects face significant cost erosion |
What you can do:
Lock in pricing for upcoming projects now
Ask suppliers about fixed-rate contracts
Review your procurement timeline - waiting rarely helps
Chatnow Insight
The market has entered a new price paradigm. With copper above RMB 110,000, proactive procurement is no longer optional - it's essential.
We continue to offer competitive pricing and flexible support to help our customers navigate this volatile market.