COPPER processing fees are expected to stay at record lows as smelters cut capacity in an increasingly tight raw materials market, industry sources say.
The news comes as a win for miners, but is no triumph for smelting companies.
Smelters say treatment and refining charges paid by miners to turn copper concentrate to metal are hardly covering costs.
Predicted smelter cutbacks are expected to balance the market later in 2008.
The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) says smelter rates will eventually have to rise to meet the increasing volume of mine supply.
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