Copper concentrates & acid — CRU webinar insight

Copper smelters are under fresh pressure as treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) fall amid tighter concentrate supply and rising smelter capacity, while record sulphuric acid values reshape smelter revenues. This CRU webinar on 28 May titled: “Smelting the Numbers: How copper concentrate and sulphuric acid economics are being rewritten”, will unpack the shift, show CRU’s new weekly TC/RC assessment in action, and explain what the evolving mix of metal and acid prices means for smelting economics.

Why attend

TC/RCs are moving from a simple fee toward a complex revenue driver as concentrates tighten and precious‑metal premiums shift the balance of smelter margins.

Sulphuric acid is now a material value stream for smelters; record acid prices can offset or exacerbate changes in metal processing economics.

The session is aimed at anyone who must make commercial, procurement or operational decisions where concentrate availability, metal payables and acid values interact.

What the webinar will cover

The history and evolution of TC/RCs, and how CRU’s new weekly TC/RC assessment can serve as an industry reference.
When concentrate supply will meet smelting demand, and the consequences for treatment and refining charges.
The changing nature of smelting economics: how gold, silver and acid values feed through to smelter revenues.
Practical demonstrations and data: CRU experts will show use cases for the new TC/RC tool and provide forecasts for concentrates and acid markets.
Live Q&A to test implications for your assets, contracts and procurement strategy.

Speakers to note

Chris Lawson, VP Market Intelligence & Prices, CRU — will lead the discussion on acid and concentrate fundamentals.

Tom Rutland, Head of Non‑Ferrous Metals, and Craig Lang, Principal, Copper Concentrates Service — will provide supply‑side and TC/RC analysis.

Peter Harrisson, Principal Analyst — will discuss sulphur and sulphuric acid dynamics.

Leonardo Meza, Principal — will explore smelting and refining cost structures and margins.

Who should register

Smelter operators, concentrate traders, commodity traders, refinery managers, and procurement or commercial teams working with copper, precious‑metal payables or acid markets.

Analysts and financiers who need up‑to‑date, actionable insight into how metal and acid markets are rebalancing smelter returns.

Call to action

Register for the live CRU webinar to see the new weekly TC/RC assessment in practice, get forward guidance on concentrate and acid markets, and join the Q&A with CRU’s copper and sulphur specialists. Spaces are limited; this briefing is essential for stakeholders who need to reprice contracts, rethink tolling arrangements or plan plant economics in today’s volatile environment.