CODELCO Raises 2010 Premium by 15% for Japan and Korea

Corporacion Nacional del Cobre, Chile (CODELCO) announced electrolytic copper premium for 2010 shipment against Japanese electrolytic copper consumers. CODELCO set the premium at CIF $ 75 per tonne for arrivals at Yokohama, up by $ 10 (15%) compared with 2009 shipment. CODELCO also raised the premium for South Korea by 16% to $ 74 per tonne.

Premium for European market was set at $ 80 per tonne (arrivals at Rotterdam) for 2010 shipment, unchanged from 2009 to reflect demand decline in the market. CODELCO seems to have raised the premium for Japan and South Korea because the countries are very near to China where demand growth for copper maintains strong. CODELCO may raise the premium for Taiwan and China, not decided yet.

CODELCO puts premium on electrolytic copper price at London Metal Exchange as sales margin. Premium reflects copper market condition in each area such as Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China. CODELCO’s premium is regarded as an international market indicator. Japanese copper smelters and ingot users decide their trading price in accordance with CODELCO’s announcement.