Copper extended its recent surge on the London Metal Exchange, with benchmark futures topping $11,700 a ton. It was the strongest rally since last summer, as investors began positioning for a possible regime of phased, near-universal copper tariffs starting in 2027.
A reinforcing narrative of tightening supply and dislocated inventories also played a role. Traders have been front‑loading shipments into the US to arbitrage higher domestic prices and to hedge against future import levies. That dynamic has left the London market increasingly exposed to swings in financing and stock movements, amplifying price volatility.
