Copper Prices Near $16,000 Per Tonne as China-India Gap Narrows

Copper prices in August 2026 were close in China and India, with China quoted at $16,038.43 per metric tonne on an FOB basis and India at $16,129.22 per tonne on a CIF basis. The difference was about $90.79 per tonne. The figures should be compared carefully because FOB pricing excludes freight and insurance, while CIF pricing includes both. A narrow gap may reflect stable shipping costs and quieter buying activity, but it does not necessarily show that both markets have identical supply and demand conditions. Copper remains important for power cables, electronics, construction, electric vehicles and grid projects. Buyers and investors will be watching mining output, Chinese manufacturing activity, global freight rates and demand from electrification projects through the rest of Q3.

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