Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange started off 2022 trading in negative territory on Tuesday January 4, with most of the other base metals edging higher.

Arbitrage for copper, aluminium and zinc imported into China*

The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Tuesday October 22, with the metal continuing its approach toward $2,500 per tonne, while lead futures were also up.

Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue its premium assessments for special high grade (SHG) zinc basis in-warehouse Singapore and Malaysia.

ASX-listed Brumby Resources has announced that it will merge with privately owned zinc explorer Marindi Metals.

Chinese domestic concentrate treatment charges (TCs) are increasingly a key tracking element in the zinc market where smelting economics are under the microscope more than ever.

Huge amounts of zinc ingots from Spain, both new and old stock, continue to enter the Chinese market after a significant inflow last year, which is leading to inventory build-up and depressed premiums, market participants have told Metal Bulletin.

Following a turbulent first half of the year marked by outbreaks of price volatility, forecasts suggest market sentiment towards London Metal Exchange zinc and lead are set to improve on brighter supply dynamics.

Zinc bears are betting that the London Metal Exchange zinc price will fall to $2,500 per tonne in June, with massive orders for put options placed in recent weeks, Fastmarkets learned.

Noranda Income Fund said its main challenge currently is for its zinc processing facility to continue to operate profitably amid current low treatment charges.