Industrial metals have ripped higher since November on bets that China’s reopening will boost demand for raw materials.
A group of “base metals” led by tin, zinc and copper have surged more than 20 per cent in three months, further supported by the US Federal Reserve signalling a slowdown in the pace of interest rate rises and a softening in the US dollar, which importers use to buy commodities.
Star performer tin has rocketed almost 80 per cent to $32,262 per tonne, the highest level since June, while copper prices have rallied by a tenth this month to $9,329 per tonne on brighter prospects for China’s economy following the easing of its zero-Covid policies.