LME Updates Rules for Russian Copper Registration to Comply with EU Sanctions

Published: Jun 18, 2026 09:33

Save

The London Metal Exchange (LME) announced new requirements for the registration of Russian-origin copper and cobalt in EU-based LME warehouses as part of measures to comply with the European Union's latest sanctions package against Russia. Under the updated rules, Russian-origin copper and cobalt can only be registered in EU-listed warehouses if evidence is provided showing the material was imported into the EU before July 25, 2026. The measure follows the EU's 20th sanctions package, which includes restrictions on imports of Russian copper and other metal products. The LME noted that no Russian-origin copper or cobalt has been warranted in EU-based LME warehouses for more than a year and therefore expects limited market impact from the new requirements.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

15 mins ago

End-use demand was sluggish, suppliers cut prices to sell, and overall trading sentiment weakened [SMM South China Spot Copper]

15 mins ago

40 mins ago

[SMM Analysis] Sulfur Price Outlook: The Game Between Geopolitical Premium Fade and Supply Recovery Lag

40 mins ago

2 hours ago

Copper price fluctuations constrain order releases.

During the week of Jun 12–18, the machine operating rate in the enamelled wire industry pulled back 1.2 percentage points WoW, and weekly order intake fell 1.25% WoW. Orders showed a divergent trend during the week. Early in the week, copper prices were low, downstream replenishment willingness was strong, and order-taking performed well. As the copper price center rose during the week, wait-and-see sentiment intensified, and orders declined noticeably at the weekend. Industry demand was notably constrained by copper price fluctuations.

2 hours ago