LME Inventories Hit Five-Month Low as Shipments to China Drive Steep Backwardation
London Metal Exchange inventories fell to their lowest in five months amid shipments to China, pushing the cash-to-three-month spread to a $99.50/ton backwardation—the widest since January.
London Metal Exchange inventories dropped to a five-month low as metal was shipped to China to relieve a shortage there. The drawdown tightened immediate supply conditions on the exchange.
The resulting pressure sent the LME’s forward curve into a steeper backwardation. The nearby contract traded at a premium of $99.50 per metric ton over three-month futures, the widest spread seen since January.
Backwardation of this magnitude typically signals extreme near-term supply tightness, with traders paying a higher premium for prompt delivery.
Source: First Squawk