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China's imports of major commodities were mixed in August, with ongoing weakness in crude oil and natural gas.

Copper spreads are spiking in a signal that physical supplies remain tight despite global economic headwinds.

Comments come as OZ Minerals rejected last month BHP's $5.9 billion takeover bid to get control of the West Musgrave copper-nickel project.

The results are the latest batch from the ongoing multi-year 300,000-metre drilling campaign designed to expand the known mineralization of the polymetallic VMS target.

The company also estimated its own production for the medium term at between 230,000 and 245,000 tonnes of nickel per year.

Year to date copper imports are up 8.1% but Shanghai inventories drop to 7-month low.

If the demands are not resolved, workers plan stoppages at the world's largest copper mine on Sep. 12 and 14, and then they would initiate an indefinite strike.

Mark Jeavons is based out of London.

Khunaygiyah's zinc and copper deposits are estimated at around 26 million tonnes.