EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 28/03: Global copper premiums broadly stable; Canada cracks down on imports after 232 tariffs; Jupiter Mines’ IPO exposure period extended

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s offices in Shanghai as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday March 28.

Base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly weaker during Asian morning trading on Wednesday, with lead the only metal to post any gains.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 03.02am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
Price ($ per tonne)  Change since yesterday’s close ($)
Copper 6,659.5 10.5
Aluminium 2,044 -1
Lead 2,399 -7
Zinc 3,286.5 11.5
Tin 20,875 0
Nickel 12,980 -20

SHFE snapshot at 10.02am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
Price (yuan per tonne)  Change since yesterday’s close (yuan)
Copper (May) 49,570 -50
Aluminium (May) 13,825 0
Zinc (May) 24,930 -20
Lead (May) 18,705 135
Tin (May) 141,050 -870
Nickel (July) 97,090 -590

Global copper premiums were largely unchanged in a week where 72,750 tonnes of cathode was delivered onto the London Metal Exchange, driving on-warrant stocks to their highest levels since June 2013. Read our full global copper wrap here.

Canada is cracking down further on unfairly traded steel and aluminum following the imposition of Section 232 tariffs in the United States.

Jupiter Mines has announced that the exposure period on its $185-million initial public offering (IPO) has been extended by a week to allow the Australian Securities and Investment Committee more time to view the prospectus.

Aluminium scrap markets in the United States were mixed, with mill-grade scrap stepping lower on declines in the terminal market and smelter-grade products mostly on steady footing while all eyes remain on potential aluminium scrap tariffs in China.

Copper-gold miner Newcrest has restarted mining operations at its Cadia project in Australia, two weeks after a tailings spill caused a shutdown.

Lastly, be sure to check Metal Bulletin’s pricing calendar for its base metals and minors, ores and alloys prices over the coming Easter Break.

What to read next
Half a million tonnes of copper is sitting in US warehouses, and the traders who put it there are starting to wonder whether they’ve built a hedge, or a trap.
European automotive procurement faces growing complexity due to regional cost volatility and policy-driven supply chains reshaping material pricing and sourcing strategies. This demands granular, region-specific market intelligence for precise cost modeling and strategic decision-making.
The assessment, which currently follows the UK holiday calendar, will follow the Singapore holiday calendar after the proposed change. There will be no change to the publication timing, and the assessment will continue to be published weekly on Wednesdays, at 7pm Singapore time. The purpose of the adjustment is to align the timing to the […]
JX Advanced Metals, Mitsui Kinzoku, Marubeni and Mitsubishi Materials(MMC) inked a deal to integrate MMC's copper concentrate procurement and related products sales business into Pan Pacific Copper (PPC), marking a significant consolidation of Japan's copper concentrate purchasing sector amid persistent pressure from weak treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs).
The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessments of the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, and the nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, cif Shanghai for Tuesday May 26 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following prices were affected:MB-NI-0143 Nickel min 99.8% full plate premium, in-whs Shanghai, […]
Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.