China's copper imports fell 8% in May from the previous month as record-high prices further eroded buying interest while overall export growth missed analysts' forecasts.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange had shed 0.6% to $9,890 a tonne by 1430 GMT after rising by 1.7% on Friday.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) gained 0.8% to $9,866 a tonne in official trading, having lost as much as 3.8% in the previous session.
Copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was set for its biggest weekly drop since September 2020 after a sizzling rally with near 40% gains since the start of the year to a record peak of $10,747.50 last week.
Three-month LME copper had slid 1.6% to a two-week low of $9,884 a tonne, down 3.5% on the week.
Copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was set for its biggest weekly drop since January after a sizzling rally with near 40% gains since the start of the year to a record peak of $10,747.50 last week.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange traded up 1% at $10,104 a tonne in official rings. However, prices of the metal used widely in power and construction are down 6% since hitting a record $10,747.50 a tonne earlier in May.
Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) shed 2.6% to $10,136 a tonne.
The metal, widely used in the power and construction industries, was on track for its biggest daily fall since February. Last week, copper hit a record of $10,747.50 a tonne and has jumped 32% so far this year.
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 1.2% at $10,496.50 a tonne in official trading and near last week's record high of $10,747.50.
LME zinc was up 2.4% at $3,085 a tonne after surging to $3,108.50, its highest since June 2018.