EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 11/12: SHFE copper price buoyed; Brazil’s primary Ali exports to reach record low; cobalt price surges to fresh high

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai, bringing the latest news and pricing stories on Monday December 11.

Copper prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange edged higher during Asian morning trading on Monday, buoyed by the release of positive economic data from China as well as news of production cuts at the country’s second-largest copper smelter.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

SHFE snapshot at 02.23am London time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price
(yuan per tonne)
 Change since yesterday’s close (yuan)
Copper  51,770 70
Aluminium 14,325 5
Zinc 24,860 155
Lead 18,470 -80
Tin  138,860 -370
Nickel  88,830 -290

LME snapshot at 02.24am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price
($ per tonne)
 Change since yesterday’s close ($)
Copper 6,610.50 39.5
Aluminium 2,015.50 5
Lead 2,455 8
Zinc 3,110 27.5
Tin 19,415 -35
Nickel 10,990 40

Brazil’s primary aluminium export volumes are on track to reach the lowest level on record in 2017, with the two remaining local producers instead focused on sales in the domestic market. 

Cobalt prices surged to fresh highs last week after investment vehicle Cobalt 27 bought over 700 tonnes of physical metal, consumers rushed to secure units, and exchange prices surged.

Benchmark fob Australia alumina prices continued to drop last week with smelters leaving their lower bids on the table in an effort to protect their margins.

In minor metals, germanium prices jumped more than 6% over the past week, while bismuth prices fell over 1%. Click here for Metal Bulletin’s overview of the minor metals market.

What to read next
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.
The Mexico Metals Outlook 2025 conference explored challenges and opportunities in the steel, aluminum and scrap markets, focusing on tariffs, nearshoring, capacity growth and global trends.
China has launched a coordinated crackdown on the illegal export of strategic minerals under export control, such as antimony, gallium, germanium, tungsten and rare earths, the country’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday May 9.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.
The US-China trade truce announced on May 12 has brought cautious optimism to China’s non-ferrous metals markets, signaling a possible shift in global trade. Starting May 14, the removal of additional tariffs has impacted sectors like battery raw materials, minor metals and base metals such as zinc and nickel, with mixed reactions. While the improved sentiment has lifted futures prices and trade activity, the long-term effects remain unclear due to challenges like supply-demand pressures and export controls.