Copper Surcharge

Copper Index and Copper Surcharges

Copper is a highly sought-after commodity and as such, its value is carefully monitored by the trading world through such organisations as the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the German Electrolyte Copper for Conducting Purposes (DEL).

The copper index is the calculated copper weight of a specific copper-based cable which is then used to help determine the copper surcharge that needs to be added to the buying price of any relevant cable that is purchased.

**MK Copper (in Euro per 100 kg)**Market data from westmetall.com (updated daily)

Sample data

Cable: chainflex® CF9.15.18;
Copper index: 268kg/km;
Copper rate of the day*: € 894/100kg Cu;
Copper basis: € 150/100kg Cu

*Sample was taken from westmetall.com on 03.03.2021

Calculation

268 [kg/km] x (894 - 150) [€/100 kg]
100
= 1,993.92 [€/km] copper surcharge
= 1.99 [€/m] copper surcharge

The copper surcharge is the calculation of the difference between the calculated price (copper basis) and the fluctuating, actual price of the copper share in a cable. The copper index specifies the weight of the copper share in a cable in kg/km. The product from the copper index (kg/km) and the price difference per kg of copper, according to the DEL quotation, then provides the copper surcharge in € per km of cable.

igus® UK Ltd supports its customers by providing fixed chainflex® pricing wherever possible, safeguarding them from the constantly fluctuating copper price. However, it does reserve the right to adjust the copper surcharge to best reflect the Copper Rate of the Day in exceptional circumstances. All copper-based chainflex® can be quoted as raw cable + copper surcharge for customers upon request.

Want to discuss paying the copper rate of the day?