SMM Copper Industry Conference and Expo 2027

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Copper cathode

The 99.99%-class pure copper plate produced by electro-refining or electro-winning, sold as the standard deliverable against LME and SHFE copper contracts and melted by rod mills and semis plants.

2

Blister copper

Intermediate copper of roughly 98-99% purity from smelting, cast into anode shapes and then refined electrolytically into cathode.

3

TC/RC

Treatment and refining charges - the fees a smelter deducts from the copper concentrate price for converting concentrate into refined metal; a core commercial term for miners, traders and smelters at copper events.

4

Continuous casting and rolling (CCR)

The in-line route that turns cathode melt into 8 mm copper rod for wire drawing, combining a casting wheel or belt with a rolling mill.

5

Upcast

Upward continuous casting of oxygen-free copper rod or tube from a vertical die, typically used where low oxygen content matters for electrical or vacuum applications.

6

Oxygen-free copper (OFC)

Copper with oxygen content typically below 10 ppm, used for high-conductivity cable, vacuum electronics and audio or instrumentation applications.

7

ETP copper

Electrolytic tough pitch copper, the general-purpose high-conductivity grade (for example C11000) that dominates wire, strip and busbar production.

8

Phosphorus-deoxidised copper

Copper grades such as TP1 and TP2 deoxidised with phosphorus for tube and plumbing applications where hydrogen embrittlement must be avoided.

9

Copper foil (ED and RA)

Electrodeposited or rolled annealed foil, sold mainly in 4.5-8 micron gauges as the current collector in lithium-ion battery cells and as PCB conductor layers.

10

Enamelled wire (magnet wire)

Copper or alloy conductor coated with polyurethane, polyester, polyimide or PEEK enamel, used for motor, transformer and EV traction windings.

11

Busbar

Solid copper or copper-alloy bar used to distribute heavy current in switchgear, inverters, battery packs and data-centre power distribution.

12

Copper scrap grades

Trade classifications such as No.1 bright bare wire, No.2 copper and copper-alloy scrap, which set the feed value for recycling and refining lines.

13

Conductivity (% IACS)

Conductivity expressed as a percentage of the International Annealed Copper Standard, the routine acceptance metric for wire, rod and busbar buyers.

14

Drawing and annealing

The wire-rod reduction sequence through drawing dies followed by softening anneals, which sets final tensile, elongation and surface quality.

15

Copper alloy designations

Standardised families such as C11000 ETP copper, H62 brass and CuNi alloys, used by semis buyers to specify composition and temper.

16

Bonded and duty-suspended trading

Bonded warehousing and import/export regimes that let copper cathode and scrap move through Chinese ports with duty deferred until domestic sale.