Protests in Peru could cut off supplies of nearly $4 billion worth of copper, while China, just emerging from a coronavirus lockdown, is expected to boost demand. Las Bambas, Peru's third-largest copper mine, has not shipped copper concentrate since January 3 because of safety concerns. Glencore Plc's Antapaccay also faces restrictions. Together, the mines, which share the same highway to the port, account for nearly 2 per cent of global copper production. Peru has been rocked by unrest since the ouster and arrest of former President Pedro Castillo, disrupting commodity supply chains from metals to organic coffee. The disruption comes at a particularly volatile time for copper markets. Copper inventories are at historic lows and miners are warning of a surge in demand for the world's most crucial metal as cars become increasingly electrified.
