Covid-19 cases close Alashankou Port in Xinjiang, affecting copper and zinc deliveries

Operations have been temporarily halted in Alashankou Port in Bortala Mongol autonomous prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, following reports of three new COVID-19 cases in the region on August 15.

Commodities that have already arrived there, including copper cathodes, copper concentrates, refined zinc and zinc concentrates, are being held, and deliveries will be delayed due to the suspension, market participants told Fastmarkets.
"Operations in the port are halted now, [and] I heard it may last for one week at least. We need to wait for further notice," a copper smelter source said.

The same smelter source added, "deliveries of our concentrates from the port...

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