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Poongsan Corporation is going to stop production of copper pipe & tubes beginning fourth quarter of the year because of poor profitability stemming from the continuing capacity expansion.

H.P.Valves manufacturing and exporting a pressure reducing valve India, pressure reducing valve supplier and type of hydraulic, air, steam, pressure reducing valves and also pressure safety relief valve in Ahmadabad.

According to a survey performed by Antaike, the mining and metals information provider, average operating rates of facilities in China producing copper flat rolled products fell to 55.8%, down by 3.4% m-o-m in October. The reduction in plant utilisation has been attributed to weak end-use demand from the domestic electronics and automotive sectors since the end of H1 2011, as well as decreasing export orders. Additionally, the volatile copper price is thought to have led to production cuts at copper plate, sheet, strip and foil fabrication plants. The survey also indicated that 50% of the 22 manufacturers sampled believe that demand will continue to decline and 40% think that it will not grow in the short term. Companies cited decreased buying associated with the Christmas and New Year holidays and shrinking exports of end-use products such as electronics and home appliances due to uncertainty stemming from the European debt crisis.

Hussey Copper Ltd, the Philadelphia-based copper semis fabricator, is rumoured to be up for sale and industry sources said that a deal is likely to be struck imminently. The company has recently been struggling to finance elevated input costs, attributed to high copper prices. In a bid to alleviate cash-flow issues stemming from the higher cost of financing, Hussey firstly reduced its payment terms in January from a 45-day to a 30-day basis. Two months later, the company asked customers to pay for freight charges on orders, which mills' traditionally absorbed into their own costs. Hussey manufactures copper and copper alloy rolled products, rods and electrical bar at two operations located in Leetsdale, PA and Eminence, KY.

Leader Universal Holdings Bhd expects its wire and cable business to benefit from increased demand as a result of stronger activity in the domestic and overseas infrastructure industry. Demand is expected to stem mainly from Asia and Australia, and also from reconstruction projects in New Zealand and Japan. Currently, orders amount to RM800M, with one-third coming from overseas markets. The company also realised strong demand from the Middle East. In the financial year ended 31st December 2010, the company recorded a turnover of RM2.49B, an increase of 27.6% compared to RM1.95B in 2009.