Copper prices firmed in both London and Shanghai markets on Monday, while London tin hit a record high for a second consecutive session, supported by encouraging China copper imports data as well as a weak dollar. China's copper imports in March jumped 29.2 percent on the month to 304,299 tonnes. Although unwrought copper imports fell a third on the year, copper scrap imports rose by 8.3 percent from a year earlier and 56 percent on the month.
Shanghai's most-active copper futures contract rose to a one-month high of 73,940 yuan ($11,314), before closing at 73,370 yuan, up 0.3 percent from the previous close. Shanghai aluminium was nearly flat at 16,880 yuan. Shanghai zinc was little changed at 18,805 yuan a tonne. Japan's top zinc smelter Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co aid its output in the April-September period will drop 15.9 percent on the year.