It is informed that the TC/RC will be lowered by 20% among Chinese big copper smelters in the second quarter of 2019.

An insider revealed that CSPT (China Smelter Purchase Team) held a meeting in Shanghai to set the TC/RC at 73 USD/ ton (7.3 cents per pound). However, the TC/RC was 92 USD/ ton (9.2cents per pound) in the first three month of 2019.

As it is know the copper mine pays the TR/RC to the smelter to have the copper ore processed to copper metal. The lowering TC/RC is a sign of shortage supply of copper concentrate.