EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 05/04: Base metals prices higher on possible US-China trade talks; Shanghai copper premium hits 17-month high; PPS floats copper tender

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s office in Singapore as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday April 5.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were all higher during Asian morning trading on Thursday amid hopes that talks between the United States and China could avert a global trade war.

The LME three-month copper price was at $6,747 per tonne as of 03.29am London time, up by $23 per tonne from Wednesday’s closing price.

The Shanghai Futures Exchange is closed on Thursday and Friday to mark the Qing Ming Festival, or tomb-sweeping day.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 03.29am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since previous session’s close ($)
Copper 6,747 23
Aluminium 1,997 6
Lead 2,376.50 4.5
Zinc 3,262.50 4.5
Tin 20,940 40
Nickel 13,280 130

Copper premiums in Shanghai rose to a 17-month high with market participants hoping for declining import costs following a cut in value-added tax (VAT).

South Korea’s Public Procurement Service (PPS) has floated a tender to procure 500 tonnes of grade A copper cathode, according to a notice from the state agency published late on Wednesday.

Teck Resources Ltd has increased its stake in Compañía Minera Teck Quebrada Blanca SA through the purchase of private Chilean firm Inversiones Mineras SA, the Canada-headquartered company said.

Zorba prices are beginning to fall in the US, with fears of mounting supplies rippling through the market due to China’s 25% tariff on US aluminium scrap imports.

Despite this week’s statement from the US Environmental Protection Agency announcing plans to revise greenhouse gas and corporate average fuel economy standards, experts who spoke to American Metal Market expect automotive lightweighting to continue.

Metal Bulletin is hosting a free web seminar at 9am London time today to discuss the key drivers of the battery raw materials markets, including substitution risk, electric vehicle policy, and supply of lithium, nickel and cobalt. Click here to register.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has launched MB-AL-0424 Aluminium P1020A premium, fob Indonesia, $/tonne on July 9 due to an expected increase in Indonesia-origin aluminium exports. MB-AL-0424 Aluminium P1020A premium, fob Indonesia, $/tonneQuality: P1020A or 99.7 % Minimum Al purity (Si 0.10% max, Fe 0.20% max) in line with LME specifications. Ingot, T-bar, sowQuantity: Min 500 tonnesLocation: FOB IndonesiaTiming: […]
To increase the transparency of our methodology, Fastmarkets clarifies that the quotation period of the MHP nickel payable indicator is the month of delivery, or the month M. Any data points Fastmarkets received otherwise will be normalized to the M month based on the monthly spreads of the prevailing exchange-traded Class-1 nickel reference price, or […]
'Probably miscalculated’ assumptions at Kakula mine force Ivanhoe to overhaul entire Kamoa-Kakula complex, explains CEO Marna Cloete.
Following an initial consultation with the market, Fastmarkets is proposing to:  The new specifications would be as follows, with amendments in italics: MB-CU-0002 Copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb Quality: Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:2022 – Cu-CATH-1 or Grade 1 Electrolytic Copper Cathode ATSM B1115-10 Quantity: Min […]
Fastmarkets’ 2025 outlook for key raw materials and ingredients used in the production and distribution of fast-moving consumer goods.
Vale Base Metals plans to boost annual copper production to 700,000 tonnes by 2035, aiming to become a top-five global producer of nickel and copper. CEO Shaun Usmar highlights a focus on productivity, cost optimization and sustainable growth. With strong assets in Canada and Brazil, Vale is well-positioned to meet rising global demand.