In other LME metals, aluminium added 0.7% to $3,273.50 a ton due to worries about the effect of the Iran war on supplies from the Gulf. Aluminium Bahrain ALBH.BH is producing aluminium at around 80% of pre-Iran war levels, its CEO said.
Zinc CMZN3 fell 0.3% to $3,812, lead CMPB3 rose 0.6% to $1,885 and tin CMSN3 climbed 1.0% to $52,525, while nickel CMNI3 gained 1.0% to $16,130, having hit $15,820, its lowest since December 30, earlier in the session.
Copper rises on signs of Chinese demand
Copper prices rose on Wednesday, supported by signs of active demand in top consumer China, though traders remained wary of potential volatility ahead with the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision due later in the day.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 gained 1.1% to $14,237 a metric ton by 1600 GMT.
The metal, used in power and construction, is down 4% since hitting a record high of $14,875 last week, as the premium of the COMEX copper futures against London prices 0#LMECMXCU fell sharply.
Chinese import premium rises as buyers restock
Meanwhile, the Yangshan copper premium , a gauge of Chinese demand for imported copper, rose 7% to $118 per ton, its highest level in almost four years, on Wednesday.
Chinese buyers are taking advantage of the recent price dip to restock copper, helping lift import premiums, said David Wilson, head of metals strategy at BNP Paribas.
Inflows to the U.S. Comex copper stocks slowed after Reuters reported last week that the White House had yet to decide on refined copper tariffs as officials assess concerns that higher prices could raise manufacturing costs.
LME copper tightness has eased significantly, with spreads moving into contango CMCU0-3, although that appeared to be driven more by sentiment than by a major increase in available inventory as uncertainty over the U.S. tariffs persists.
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