The price of copper and capital costs will be central to Freeport-McMoRan’s decision on the timing of an expansion at its Bagdad copper operation in the US state of Arizona, the president of the US producer told Fastmarkets

China’s premium for copper cathode imports increased after the country’s golden week holiday from September 29 to October, supported amid favorable import conditions, while the premium in the US copper market came under pressure due to excess supply, sources said

The London Metal Exchange (LME) is trialing the expansion of its closing price methodology across five of its base metals contracts ahead of launching next year, the exchange’s chief executive officer told Fastmarkets

Rising base metal stock levels on the London Metal Exchange continue to highlight a poor physical demand environment, with the anticipated return in global demand remaining a key talking point ahead of LME Week, participants told Fastmarkets on Friday October 6

The short-term outlook for copper is being understandably muted by investors’ macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns despite an ongoing positive story for the longer term, the chairman of Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco said in an interview

Codelco is currently negotiating with fellow Chilean miner Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) to create a lithium production partnership, the chairman of the state-owned copper producer told Fastmarkets

Codelco expects to begin to gradually increase its copper production following several years of declining output, with a roughly 30% rise from current levels expected by 2030, the chairman of Chile’s state-owned copper company told Fastmarkets

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the methodology for its audited non-ferrous price assessments and indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

The spot copper markets in Europe and the United States were very quiet in the week to Tuesday October 3, with macroeconomic headwinds pressuring demand for the red metal in both regions

Spot trading in the copper concentrate market was inactive in the week to Friday September 29, with Chinese participants in holiday mode ahead of China’s weeklong break for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day (September 29-October 6)