Base Metals Prices to Trend Lower in 2022

SHANGHAI, Dec 21 (SMM) - Experts said that copper, zinc, aluminium and lead prices will stabilise in the next one or two quarters after keeping rising for most of the year in 2021.

Global metal prices will face downward pressure amid concerns about inflation all over the world, the interest rate hike cycle adopted by central banks and slowing of the industrial activity from its peak in 2020 on rising prices. Sandeep Daga, founder and director of Regsus Consulting, said: "High metal prices have stifled the demand in some Asian countries, except for India, China and Southeast Asia. Most metals may be in surplus in 2022, which seems very natural, as demand will slow down and supply may gradually recover. This means that high prices will gradually decline in the next six months. When demand and supply reach a balance, prices will become more acceptable to consumers. "