2026-10-30
In Q4 2026, spot copper in China has been trading around RMB 110,000 per tonne, while A00 aluminium moves near RMB 24,000. In RF coaxial cable, both inner and outer conductors are copper-based: every RMB 10,000/t move in copper raises material cost by roughly 3–6% depending on tube wall thickness and braid coverage.
Two changes are visible. First, more tenders now quote per metre and settle per drum, listing weight and metal price separately to avoid disputes over drum length. Second, long-cycle projects add copper-linked clauses, using the Changjiang average over agreed trading days before shipment as the benchmark, with proportional adjustment outside a defined band.
For buyers, three points matter: whether the quotation states the copper benchmark date and standard; whether delivery timing matches the pricing window, avoiding a low bid with high replacement cost; and inventory planning, since corrugated feeder lead times are typically 15–30 days, where locking volume early beats pressing on price.
PTL's website publishes daily Changjiang spot averages for copper 1# and aluminium A00 with a 30-day trend at www.ptlcable.net/copper.html. For per-metre quotations or copper-linked terms, contact the sales team.