{
  "id": 15598547,
  "title": "Copper falls as LME stocks edge higher and mine supply concerns ease",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/copper-falls-as-lme-stocks-edge-higher-and-mine-supply-concerns-ease",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-19T11:12:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40444938/copper-falls-as-lme-stocks-edge-higher-and-mine-supply-concerns-ease"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Copper prices dipped on Monday as growing inventories and the cessation of a strike at a significant Chilean mine alleviated supply worries. The benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange experienced a 0.1% decrease, settling at $14,385 per metric ton by 1016 GMT. Copper reserves in LME-registered warehouses surged to a two-month peak of 147,450 tons, after 8,225 tons of shipments entering US warehouses, as per daily exchange data. Copper reserves outside the United States have been dwindling in recent months, as traders redirected shipments to the US in anticipation of possible tariffs on refined copper imports, which propelled prices to a record high of $14,875 per ton on September 10. Daniel Ghali, Deutsche Bank’s head of metals research, attributed the threat of US tariffs to a larger strategic shift prompted by national security concerns over concentrated critical minerals supply chains, rather than a single policy risk. Even if tariff concerns were lifted, Ghali noted that transportation costs and market friction would persistently discourage substantial exports from the US. In the top metal consumer, China, economic growth rebounded from three-year lows in the third quarter, driven by higher exports. However, China's property market continues its decline, with new home prices falling again in September, extending a more than three-year downturn. On the supply side, workers at Antofagasta’s Centinela mine concluded a strike that commenced on October 7. Among other LME metals, aluminium remained steady at $3,000 per ton. China's primary aluminium production peaked at a record quarterly rate in July to September as smelters maintained high operating rates, despite a government-imposed capacity cap. Other metals also showed modest gains, with zinc rising 1.1% to $3,730.50 per ton, lead increasing 0.2% to $1,891.50, tin growing 0.4% to $50,330, and nickel surging 0.9% to $15,495.",
  "summary": "LONDON: Copper prices fell on Monday as rising inventories and the end of a strike at a major Chilean mine eased supply concerns. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.1% at $14,385 a metric ton by 1016 GMT. Available copper stocks in LME-registered warehouses rose to a two-month high of 147,450 tons after 8,225 tons of inflows into US warehouses, daily exchange…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}