Copper futures ended lower on Monday as coronavirus-induced lockdowns in top consumer China sparked concerns about demand and growth. China’s copper imports in April fell 4% from the same month a year earlier as lockdowns across the country hurt manufacturing activity and consumption. The world’s top metals consumer brought in 465,330 tonnes of unwrought copper and products last month, down from 484,890 tonnes in April 2021 and compared with 504,009 tonnes in the previous month.
Copper futures for July delivery lost $0.0735 to settle at $4.1935 a pound on the Comex metals division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 1.8 percent at $9,250 a ton.