EUROPEAN MORNING BRIEF 25/04: Global copper premiums largely stable; falling aluminium prices curb alumina gains; new permitting issue at Freeport’s Indonesian unit

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday April 25.

Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly higher during Asian morning trading on Wednesday April 25, after buying sentiment in China picked up following comments from the country’s central government which suggested a degree of flexibility in its monetary tightening policy.

Check Metal Bulletin’s live futures report here.

LME snapshot at 03.30am London time
Latest three-month LME Prices
  Price ($ per tonne) Change since yesterday’s close ($)
Copper 6,977 -36
Aluminium 2,202 -25
Lead 2,327 17
Zinc 3,223.50 11.5
Tin 21,075 -25
Nickel 14,130 145
SHFE snapshot at 10.32am Shanghai time
Most-traded SHFE contracts
  Price (yuan per tonne) Change since yesterday’s close (yuan)
Copper (June) 51,650 120
Aluminium (June) 14,430 45
Zinc (June) 24,430 0
Lead (June) 18,310 -55
Tin  (July) 146,470 180
Nickel  (September) 103,560 230

Copper premiums remained largely stable around the world this past week. While European premiums were supported by strong industrial demand and low scrap availability, little import interest was reported in Shanghai. In the United States, the number of spot deals has started to increase, which could be a sign that the long-awaited rise in premiums might happen soon.

Alumina prices set a fresh multi-year high on Tuesday, consolidating above $700 per tonne with no immediate respite in supply restrictions on the cards.

A new permitting issue has emerged at copper producer Freeport-McMoRan’s unit in Indonesia following the introduction of new environmental requirements in April, the United States-based firm said on Tuesday.

Emirates Global Aluminium has completed construction of the calcination process facility at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, and is expected to produce its first alumina in the first half of 2019.

What to read next
Renewed US-China trade tensions with Donald Trump’s second presidential term could bolster Southeast Asia’s aluminium scrap industry in 2025, particularly amid still-growing Chinese demand, sources told Fastmarkets by Tuesday, January 14.
European steel and aluminium producers have urged the European Commission to take immediate and effective action to tackle "scrap leakage" so that the European Union can meet its sustainable development aims and secure industrial competitiveness.
There has been a freefall in copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) this year amid tighter supply in the market. In 2025, supply tightness is projected to keep copper concentrates TC/RCs low on average for the whole year, sources told Fastmarkets.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ Shanghai copper premiums on Monday December 23 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of the publication of several US base metal price assessments to a monthly basis, including MB-PB-0006 lead 99.97% ingot premium, ddp Midwest US; MB-SN-0036 tin 99.85% premium, in-whs Baltimore; MB-SN-0011 tin 99.85% premium, ddp Midwest US; MB-NI-0240 nickel 4x4 cathode premium, delivered Midwest US and MB-NI-0241 nickel briquette premium, delivered Midwest US.
The news that President-elect Donald Trump is considering additional tariffs on goods from China as well as on all products from US trading partners Canada and Mexico has spurred alarm in the US aluminium market at a time that is usually known to be calm.