{
  "id": 1901809,
  "title": "Copper: LME stock jump eases supply squeeze – ING",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/copper-lme-stock-jump-eases-supply-squeeze-ing",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T09:15:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FXStreet",
    "slug": "fxstreet",
    "url": "https://www.fxstreet.com/news/copper-lme-stock-jump-eases-supply-squeeze-ing-202608190915"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ING's commodities team reports a significant decrease in Copper prices on the LME, falling below $14,000/t as a sharp increase in on-warrant inventories eases a long-standing supply squeeze. The LME copper prices dipped below $14,000/t yesterday, marking the steepest decline since July 23, as fresh deliveries into LME warehouses alleviated a prolonged supply shortage. On-warrant copper inventories surged by 20,025 tonnes, the highest daily increase in over a month, adding to a six-day streak of gains totaling 123,100 tonnes. This rise in stocks helped to relieve tightness following strong shipments to the US, fueled by tariff-related arbitrage opportunities. Consequently, the LME cash/3M copper spread narrowed to $248/t, and the tom-next spread also declined, ending a two-week period of increases despite higher copper prices. The latest COTR data showed speculators trimming their net long copper positions by 6,340 lots to 53,914 lots, signaling a moderation in bullish sentiment for the coming days and weeks.",
  "summary": "ING’s commodities team highlights that Copper prices on the LME have retreated sharply, falling below $14,000/t as a significant increase in on-warrant inventories eases the previous supply squeeze.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The surge in on-warrant copper inventories on the LME, driven by tariff-related arbitrage opportunities, has eased the long-standing supply squeeze, leading to a decrease in copper prices and moderation in bullish sentiment.",
  "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."
}