McEwen’s Los Azules copper project gets key environmental approval
The company anticipates construction to begin as early as 2026.
Copper price hit a record high on Thursday as Chinese investors unleashed fresh demand following a five-day holiday.
Copper for delivery in July was up 1.71% by 1:42 pm (EDT), with futures at $4.6015 per pound ($10,123 a tonne) on the Comex market in New York, over the $4.58 per pound high reached in February 2011.
Click here for an interactive chart of copper prices
The reopening of major industrial economies is sparking a surge across commodities markets from corn to lumber, with tin climbing above $30,000 a tonne for the first time since 2011 also on Thursday.
Copper has gained 28.1% since the end of last year and is up 114.9% from its 2020 low, hit in March of that year amid the global economic fallout as countries locked down their populations to contain the spread of covid-19.
“The long-term prospects for metals prices are ‘too good’ and point to higher prices in the next few years,” Commerzbank AG analyst Daniel Briesemann told Bloomberg.
“The decarbonization trends in many countries — which include switching to electric vehicles and expanding wind and solar power — are likely to generate additional demand for metals.”
Trading house Trafigura Group, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America also expect copper to extend gains.
“Copper could spike to $13,000 a tonne in coming months, partially over low inventories,” Bank of America said.
“Copper prices will remain strong as a continued rebound in global PMIs bolstered investors’ bullish sentiment,” Citic Futures Co. said in a note.
On the supply side, Peru reported a 19% jump in March copper output, potentially offering some relief to tight global supplies.
Meanwhile, Chile’s lower house approved a progressive rate on copper sales in what could become one of the heaviest tax burdens in global mining, potentially stalling investments and boosting prices.
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(With files from Bloomberg and Reuters)
