Copper cathode Grade A (LME)
Copper sheets produced by electrolytic refining with at least 99.99 % purity (BS EN 1978 Cu-CATH-1 or ASTM B115 Grade 1) from LME-registered brands; the main feedstock for wire rod, tube and alloy production. Non-registered or off-spec cathodes trade at a discount and registered Grade A at a premium; shipments are checked for brand, weight band, bundle count and quality certificate. Cathode is usually priced at the LME average of the shipment or arrival month plus a Shanghai, Rotterdam or US regional premium.
Related terms
London Metal Exchange (LME) and commodity exchanges
The exchange that sets global reference prices for non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminium, zinc, nickel, lead, tin and cobalt; its official prices and monthly averages are used as indices in physical contracts. A physical buyer pays the LME price plus a premium that depends on origin, brand and delivery location (e.g. the Rotterdam aluminium premium). Other key exchanges: CME/COMEX (copper, gold), ICE (Brent, cocoa, coffee, sugar, cotton), CBOT (soybeans, corn, wheat), SHFE (Shanghai metals), DCE and ZCE (Chinese plastics, iron ore and agricultural futures) and Bursa Malaysia (palm oil).
Formula pricing (index-linked pricing)
A method in which the price is tied to a market index instead of a fixed figure – for example “LME copper average of the shipment month + USD 85/t premium”, “Platts Dated Brent + USD 2.50/bbl” or “ICIS PP homopolymer CFR Türkiye monthly average minus 1 %”. The pricing period (B/L month, arrival month or quotational period, QP), the index source and the exchange rate used for payment must be stated clearly in the contract. In term contracts it protects both parties fairly against price swings.
Material profiles
More in Metals & steel
- Aluminium alloy series and temper designation (6063-T5 / 5083-H111)
- Coating weight (Z100, Z275, AZ150)
- Flat steel: hot-rolled (HRC), cold-rolled (CRC) and galvanised (HDG)
- Scrap classification (ISRI, HMS 1&2, shredded, Millberry)
- Stainless steel grades (304, 316, 430, duplex)
- Steel grade designation (EN, ASTM, AISI, JIS, GB)
- Yield strength, tensile strength and elongation