China s Copper Consumption Lisbon,., 9 th, 2012 LI Lan, BGRIMM
Main contents 1 Refined copper imports and stock issues 2 Copper usage by individual industry 3 The status of copper fabricators 2
Refined copper imports 38% 11% 51% Tolling business Normal business Bonded warehouse Source: China Customs Refined copper imports., 2010~. 2012 Source: China Customs Refined copper imports by trading method ~, 2012 Refined copper imports increased by 57.9% YoY in the first 8 months. Bonded warehouse imports increased by 92.1% in the first 7 months. 3
Macroeconomic view for 2012 China s GDP growth for whole year > 8%? - Q1 8.1%, Q2 7.6% - Economic activity in Q3 was weaker than expected. - Continue to expect a modest sequential recovery from Q4. Growth of asset investment (FAI) is expected to recover more visibly led by - Strengthened implementation of growth-stabilizing policies - Infrastructure investment Foreign trade continue to weaken in ust -Exports were up to 2.7% (y/y) -Imports declined by 2.6% (y/y) 4
Macroeconomic view- 2012 Government activities Fiscal policy Tax cuts for small businesses Subsidies for energy-efficiency appliances and small engine car Easing of lending to the property sector Approval and launch of more government investment projects Monetary policy Increase of base money supply through RRR cuts and reverse repos Increase of banks lending quota Twice interest rate cuts 5
Copper usage in power industry-i bn RMB 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 ~ ~ ~ 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: NEA Investment on power generation Investment on power grid Investment in power industry. 2009-. 2012 The investment in power industry decreased by 0.46% YoY in the first 8 months of 2012 power generation -5.3% YoY power grid 5.1% YoY 6
Copper usage in power industry-ii Some big projects in western China encouraged more investment in power grid. SGCC centralized the public tendering of utility power equipment from local authorities this year. Copper usage in power industry will continue to be one of the main driving forces for China s copper usage this year. Due to the unexpected low demand in the summer, we reduced our forecast of copper usage in the power industry this year from 5% to 4%. 7
8 Copper usage in building industry-i 108 106 104 102 100 98 96 94 92 90 88 2009 2010 2011 2012 Housing climate index The climate index of the housing industry.2009-.2012
Copper usage in building industry-ii No intention of easing or reversing the ongoing restriction on real estate industry Housing transaction started to pick up in mid of this year Property activity rebounded and credit conditions improved. The property sector is stabilizing and the modest recovery is expected in the next couple of quarters. Copper usage in the building industry should increase by 3% in 2012 and we expect 4% growth next year. 9
Copper usage in transportation industry-i k unit 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% -20% -40% Source: NBS production Growth rate China s auto production& sales. 2009~. 2012 Year-on-year growth of auto production picked up in y and ust due to 10 New subsidiary program to small engine size vehicle from e 1st, 2012 The increased energy-saving vehicles production The policy of free tolls on highways during the one-week National Day holiday launched in. 2012
Copper usage in transportation industry-ii The fixed asset investment in railway industry decreased by 24.1% YoY in the first 8 months. Central government approved 25 new urban rail transit and intercity rail line projects ($127 billion) early tember. At least 67 billion RMB investment a month from tember through the end of this year In the first 8 months, the completed shipbuilding was down by 12.4% YoY, and the new orders were only 52% from a year earlier. Motorcycle production was down by 11.4% YoY in the first 8 months, while the exports also declined by 13.8% YoY due to sluggish demand outside of China. 11 Copper usage in transport industry might be very flat this year and we expect a 5% increase for next year.
12 Copper usage in general consumer goods 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 Source: NBS Production of all major home electrical appliances remained weak year-todate due to destocking and sluggish demand in both domestic and oversea markets. 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0-50.0-100.0 e y e y e y ~ e y 000 % 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012 Aircon production Growth rate (%) w ashing machines refrigerators color TV M illion
Copper usage in general consumer goods Positive factors Current low inventories in the production and supply chain Subsidy programs from governments Recovered housing sales in recent months Strong aircon exports to USA Negative factors Al magnet wire is gaining market share from copper in home electrical appliances Low growth rate of home electrical appliances exports The demand for most home electrical appliances has been overdrawn in advance by the previous subsidy programs 13 Copper usage in general consumer goods might fall by 8% this year and recover by 3~5% next year.
Status of copper fabricators-i Wire rod Over capacity high risk six wire rod lines with 1,320kt/yr capacity have been commissioned Eight wire rod projects with 1,770kt/yr capacity are in the pipeline Capacity utilization rate is less than 60% Big wire rod makers with strong financing capability are operating well. Some small wire rod makers cut their production. The magnet wire demand for aircon compressor and auto wire harness was quite weak. It might not pick up shortly. Demand from power cable has been improved since e. Building wire demand is still very flat Wire rod production this year might slightly increase by 2.5% YoY. Increased demand for power cables offset falling demand for magnet wire. 14
Status of copper fabricators-ii Refined copper tube No production high season this year. Production was low than expectation due to both low domestic production and exports. No strong driven forces from new round subsidy programs yet Some small tube makers cut or suspend production Current low aircon inventories Good signs?? Refined copper tube production might fall by 8% this year due to falling demand from aircon and exports 15
Status of copper fabricators-iii Sheet/strip demand is mixed. Connector strip demand related to the iphone and ipad production remains strong. Connector strip demand for other applications such as PC, home electrical appliances and auto is still soft. Connector strip for high-voltage electrical apparatus picked up due to some infrastructure projects. But for middle and low-voltage is still flat. Low growth rate for sheet/strip demand for lockset, zipper and other hardware 16
Status of copper fabricators-iv Growth rate of fabricators main business operating profit in H1 2012 No. Company Product growth rate of main business operating profitin H12012 1 Ningbo Powerway Group Co., Ltd Copper alloy rod & Bar -42.5% 2 Zhejiang Honglei Copper, Co., Ltd Copper tube % Magnet wire -41.8% 3 Zhejiang Hailiang Co., Ltd Copper tube & brass rod -7.5% 4 Ningbo Xingye Copper alloy sheet/strip -54% 5 Guangdong Jingyi Mrtal Co., Ltd Copper tube -83.0% 6 7 Anhui Xinke New Material Co., Ltd Anhui Jingcheng Copper Share Co., Ltd Copper alloy sheet/strip & wire rod Copper alloy sheet/strip -91.3% -384.4% Source: Company s half year report Falling profit for main fabricators. 17
Summary table Cathode consumption, scraps usage, total copper and copper alloy semis usage 2011~2013 2011 2012 2013 Kt-Cu Kt-Cu % Kt-Cu % 1 Cathode consumption 7764 7992 2.9% 8324 4.2% 2 Scrap directly usage 1286 1150-10.6% 1177 2.4% 3 (1+2) Total Cu& Cu alloy semis production 9050 9142 1.0% 9502 3.9% 4 Import of Cu & Cu alloy semis* 530 468-11.7% 400-14.5% 5 Export of Cu & Cu alloy semis* 234 210-10.3% 200-4.8% 6 (3+4-5) Usage of Cu & Cu alloy semis 9346 9400 0.6% 9702 3.2% Source: BGRIMM 18 Copper fabricators order books in the summer low season were very disappointing. Demand in tember picked up slightly, but the impetus from the Chinese ober s Golden Week holiday and Christmas orders are much softer than in previous years.
Thanks for your attention! LI Lan Email: LiLan@bgrimm.com Tel: +86-10-63299756/68324907 Fax: +86-10-63299744 19 BGRIMM Beijing General Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy 2012-10-15