Copper heads towards record high, focus on tight supplies outside US
LONDON: Copper prices headed towards a record high on Monday, as the prospect of shortages outside the U.S. spurred buying, while the softer dollar reinforced positive sentiment. Traders said a U.S. holiday meant volumes were likely to be muted, but added that focus was firmly on copper and zinc. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.1% at $14,430 a metric ton at 0931 GMT, the…
Copper prices are on track to reach a new record high as concerns about limited supplies beyond the United States push investors to buy the metal, according to traders. The softer U.S. dollar has also contributed to the positive sentiment surrounding copper and zinc. The London Metal Exchange's benchmark copper price reached $14,430 per metric ton on Monday, marking its highest level since January's all-time peak of $14,527.50.
The tight global copper supply has driven traders to focus on the metal. The Comex copper stocks at the London Metal Exchange reached a record 766,795 short tons, or 695,624 metric tons. Elevated premiums or backwardation for nearby contracts against longer-dated forwards have attracted copper back to the London Metal Exchange. However, some copper is expected to leave the exchange system in the coming days and weeks due to cancelled warrants or metal earmarked for delivery at 51%.
Another indication of the global copper supply crunch is the dwindling stocks in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which have fallen to 63,000 tons, down 85% since mid-March and at their lowest since January 2024. Copper prices in the Shanghai Futures Exchange market are also in backwardation, reflecting the industry's concerns in China about the metal's availability.
Zinc prices have also benefited from tight supplies and low LME stocks, jumping 0.8% to $3,976 per ton, close to the $3,990 level hit at the start of the month. Zinc's surge is the highest since May 2022. Similarly, base metals overall have seen gains due to a weaker U.S. currency, making dollar-priced metals cheaper for holders of other currencies. Aluminium, lead, tin, and nickel also saw price increases, with nickel slipping slightly to $16,755 per ton.
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- Copper touches record high, focus on tight supplies outside US economictimes.indiatimes.com
