EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 19/03: SHFE base metals prices all lower; cadmium market supported; non-ferrous price drivers shifting

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Monday March 19.

Base metal prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were all lower during Asian morning trading on Monday, with several factors including easing supply concerns, a stronger dollar and an upcoming United States monetary policy meeting pressuring copper prices in particular.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

SHFE snapshot at 10:57am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price (yuan per tonne) Change since previous session’s close (yuan)
Copper (May) 51,280 -840
Aluminium (May) 13,935 -60
Zinc (May) 24,885 -25
Lead (May) 18,435 -115
Tin  (May) 144,610 -110
Nickel  (Jul) 102,070 -1,640

LME snapshot at 02:58am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since previous session’s close ($)
Copper 6,829 -59
Aluminium 2,076 -9
Lead 2,378 -5
Zinc 3240.50 -19.5
Tin 20,990 -10
Nickel 13,490 -135

Strong demand from India is continuing to support the cadmium market, with the price for higher-grade material reaching fresh highs this week, even with the end of the fiscal year approaching, market sources told Metal Bulletin.

The upheaval in the global non-ferrous metals trade is increasingly shifting price drivers from traditional factors to a landscape where geopolitical influences have more weight on prices, according the Bureau of International Recycling.

A surge in warehousing stocks and freight costs has zinc users in the United States wondering where the market is headed – and how near-term premiums will be affected.

Secondary aluminium scrap prices in the US generally remain steady, supported by firm demand and steady supply.

And in case you missed it:
Be sure to check out correspondent Dalton Barker’s review of the week in the non-ferrous markets.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its assessments for Shanghai bonded nickel stocks on January 30.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0346 Aluminium P1020A premium, in-whs dup Rotterdam, $/tonne that was published incorrectly on Thursday January 29.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-AL-0299 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp Spain that was published incorrectly on Friday January 23.
Learn about the recent trends in AI metals costs and their effect on lithium, copper and aluminium prices for energy storage.
Following a consultation period, which closed on January 14, Fastmarkets will increase the frequency of its MB-BX-0016 Bauxite, cif China, price assessment to a weekly basis, from a monthly basis. Fastmarkets will also extend the timing of the price to include cargoes for arrival within 90 days and move the publishing time to 7pm Shanghai time on Friday. […]
European aluminium scrap and secondary ingot prices are on the rise, driven by a significant shortage of scrap. Trade sources indicate that low generation has constrained domestic supply, and this is happening even before the expected EU scrap export restrictions in Spring 2026.