Copper prices soar, with most air conditioning companies raising prices one after another

       Recently, the futures price of copper on the London Metal Exchange hit a historical high of around $13,000 per ton, while the domestic Shanghai copper futures price also exceeded 100,000 yuan per ton. The continuous surge in copper prices has put cost pressure on the air conditioning industry, prompting multiple air conditioning companies to announce price hikes, sparking a new wave of price adjustments in the sector.

       It is noteworthy that industry leader Gree Electric Appliances announced against the trend that household air conditioners would not see price hikes and explicitly stated there are currently no plans for "aluminum replacing copper." This move aims to align with the implementation of the 2026 national home appliance subsidy policy, allowing benefits to consumers. Industry insiders analyze that the current price surge stems from cost pressure transmission, but under the existing competitive landscape, a significant industry-wide price hike is unlikely. Leading companies may absorb cost pressures through supply chain management and product structure optimization.