Chinese Casting Companies Agree to Lower Copper Processing Fees for Q1

Reports indicate that China's leading copper smelting facilities have agreed on processing fees for the first quarter of 2025 at a lower price than the current quarter. According to sources, representatives of smelting facilities reached an agreement on copper concentrate processing and refining charges (TC/RC) at a new guideline of $25 per ton and 2.5 cents per pound during a meeting of the China Smelting Procurement Team in Shanghai. These figures represent a 28.6% reduction from the expectations stated for the fourth quarter, which were $35 per ton and 3.5 cents per pound. However, these rates are higher than the 2025 annual benchmark of $21.25 per ton and 2.125 cents per pound agreed upon earlier this month among leading Chinese smelting facilities, including Chilean miner Antofagasta and Jiangxi Copper.