Participants in Europe’s copper industry struck a pessimistic tone in conversations with Fastmarkets in the lead-up to LME Week, with sources saying that weak demand, high interest rates and a poor macro-economic environment were dampening the mood in the industry

European spot copper market participants noted challenging market conditions in the week to Tuesday, August 22, with financing costs and weak demand putting downward pressure on premiums

A number of sources have told Fastmarkets that there is already demand in Europe for copper with green credentials. Less clear, however, is whether the supply demand balance has created the need for premiums for green copper, and what the future holds for the material

Economic stimulus policies put in place by the government of China will be key to sustaining price rises among base metals in the coming quarters, Daria Efanova, head of research at UK-based services provider Sucden Financial, said during the company’s third-quarter metals webinar on Wednesday, August 2

Copper market participants in Europe have become increasingly interested in 'green' material, with some consumers focusing procurement on environmentally conscious copper

Brazilian miner Vale has signed a binding agreement with Manara Minerals of Saudi Arabia under which the latter will buy a stake in Vale Base Metals (VBM), the holding entity for the South American company’s Energy Transition Metals (ETM) business, it announced on Thursday July 27

Despite concerns over the uncertainty of China’s economic recovery, base metals price forecasts remain mixed for aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc prices

Base metal futures on the London Metal Exchange are showing little signs of change as China's potential economic stimulus failed to materialize in June causing sentiment of rebounding Chinese demand to dampen

Fastmarkets is amending the frequency of its price assessment for Shanghai equivalent-grade copper cathode premium to once every week from once every two weeks, following a 30-day consultation.

The copper industry must work together to decarbonize procedures across the board to tackle the challenges of climate change while moves toward electrification will create a boom in copper demand, Aurubis chief executive officer Roland Harings has said