Investment demand takes over the copper market

Fundamentals are important but no longer the only consideration as true Chinese demand remains shrouded in mystery

Johannesburg - 

The price of copper has jumped over 70% since the beginning of 2009 but, there is still uncertainty as to where it is going next.

According to an analysis put out by Numis Securities, while "it is tempting to infer this price strength as suggestive of an improvement in underlying demand," especially considering there is strong demand for copper from China, which saw record imports of the refined metal over the last few months and significant restocking by the country's State Reserve Bureau.

But, demand from Western nations still reeling from the economic downturn has been and, looks likely to remain weak for the near future.

Numis analysts, say, "We believe some of the recent increase in prices is due to increased investment demand - especially since Q2 '09 - and a return of risk appetite in the investment community. Underlying this is the fact is that most base metal prices have risen in line with equities - suggesting that much of the price strength is due to increased confidence."

This is also the view of copper specialist analysts Bloomsbury Minerals Economics, whose Chris Welch told Mineweb that the level of price increases seen in 2009 is not justified by the pick up in demand.

"Chinese imports have increased but Western demand has slowed. We see it as a case of people investing in the metal on the back of the pick-up in Chinese demand rather than just on demand supply fundamentals."

According to Numis in the last quarter of 2008, in the aftermath of the collapse at Lehman Brothers, "appetite for risk dissolved with a withdrawal of investment demand"

This, the group says, is evidenced by a collapse in the price of copper, "with initially little underlying build-up of stocks.

"As Q4 developed stocks began to build substantially as physical and investment demand buckled. Most of Q1 '09 saw stock builds with a relatively consistent low price around US$1.50lb. Q2 we believe saw the return of some investment demand and risk appetite. For the same stock levels as in Q1 the price was consistently US$0.50/lb higher. So far in Q3 the copper price has remained strong, even with some recent minor stockbuilds."

So where to from here?

Welch, maintains that prices should go down because of the current fundamental situation but, he believes this is unlikely as there has been a lot of bear squeezing recently.

Numis holds a similar view, "We believe that in Q3 the rally is likely to idle as Chinese base metals imports look likely slow over the quarter. Stock levels are already stagnating. However, barring additional systemic shocks to the global capital markets, we believe that base metal prices are unlikely to collapse back to the Q1 trough levels - currently investment demand appears to be maintaining a floor of US$2/lb copper whatever the stock level and in the last 10 days copper stock levels have been increasing marginally and cancelled warrants have declined whilst the price has continued to increase."

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responses to this article

WAKE UP The Chinese are getting out of the $ & $-related investments & into AU, CU, & any other commodity which appears ( & is ) a better medium to long term bet. Wakey, wakey everyone! by CICERO on July 28 2009, 03:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WAKEY, WAKEY!! As they have some 1.5 Tril in $'s they may buy for a while yet. But when they DO stop, & they will, its bye bye RSA, OZ, etc. by CICERO on July 28 2009, 03:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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