The global copper market remained in a deficit of 395,000 tonnes through the first 11 months of 2018, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) reported on Thursday February 21, although that shortfall tightened from a 545,000-tonne deficit in January-October.
"World growth was constrained by an unusually high frequency of smelter disruptions and temporary shutdowns for technical upgrades [and] modernizations," the Lisbon, Portugal-based trade group said in its monthly report."The main contributor to the growth in world refined production was China, due to its continued expansion of capacity," the ICSG explained.In China, the premium for copper cathode has hit its lowest point since September 2017. Fastmarkets assessed the premium...