Potential Tight Copper Supply in China
Copper supply is said to become tight from ingot to scrap again in China after slowed demand under financial squeeze and inventory adjustment. Japanese watch the situation though Japanese expected slow summer before with smaller demand in China since May.

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation said Chinese copper import decreased significantly since early May after China's cooling down overheated economy. The firm also said copper could become short when traders already sold materials, which would arrive in May-June.

Industry source said copper scrap generation decreased in China since May.
Copper price in Shanghai is lower than price in London Metal Exchange by $200 per tonne, as much as by $400 temporally, under economy adjustment. But the Shanghai price is starting to increase recently.

Makers had to export electrolytic copper despite of strong domestic demand because they would make loss when they would sell materials at lower Shanghai price than LME. Such move is said to result in shortage of domestic supply when Shanghai price is staying recently.

Japanese copper interests expected slow international market toward summer. But they now become cautious for potential copper shortage in China.