Copper Falls as Inventories Ease Supply Concerns

2026-08-24 05:00 By Nicole Aliyah 1 min. read

Copper futures fell toward $6.55 per pound, retreating from recent highs as a sharp build-up in exchange inventories eased concerns over near-term supply tightness.

LME-monitored copper inventories stood at 238,575 tons on August 20, about 16% above their February low, while SHFE-monitored stocks jumped 28.4% last week to 89,548 tons.

The rise in inventories, along with a sharp narrowing in the LME cash premium over three-month copper, pointed to improved near-term availability and weighed on prices.

Meanwhile, Zijin Mining warned that flooding at the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo could reduce its share of production by as much as 57,000 tons this year, highlighting continued risks to global supply.

A weaker US dollar helped limit the decline, while investors await the Jackson Hole meeting and the Federal Reserve Chair’s speech for clues on interest rates.



News Stream
Copper is down by 2%
Copper decreased 2% to 6.4497 USD/Lbs
2026-10-30
Copper Extends Fall on Tech Selloff
Copper futures fell toward $6.5 per pound on Friday, sliding for the second straight session as disappointing earnings updates triggered another selloff in tech and AI stocks. The metal plays a crucial role in the global AI expansion due to its extensive use in data centers and power infrastructure, leaving prices particularly sensitive to shifts in technology market sentiment. Investors also grew increasingly concerned about a potential Fed rate hike later this year following hot PCE inflation data and persistent energy-driven price pressures. Despite the recent pullback, copper continued to receive support from tightening physical supplies in China, the world’s largest consumer of the metal, as reflected in rising import premiums. This trend underscores growing competition for copper supplies both within and outside China, as earlier concerns over potential US import tariffs prompted traders to redirect shipments toward American warehouses, reducing availability in other markets.
2026-10-30
Copper is down by 9.01%
Copper decreased 9.01% to 6.0469 USD/Lbs
2026-10-29