Benchmark's Copper Weekly is back for episode two — and with host Mike Finch holding the fort in London and analyst Albert reporting live from Washington DC, this week's conversation covers a market where macro forces are firmly in the driving seat.

With copper prices easing back slightly from last week's levels, Mike and Albert unpack whether the recent equity sell-off and Middle East re-escalation represent genuine fundamental reassessment or simply short-term noise in what remains a historically elevated price environment.

In this episode:

Macro vs. Fundamentals — Equities sold off, the Middle East flared up again, and copper felt some pressure. But with prices still comfortably above $13,000/t, is Dr. Copper simply responding to noise, or is something deeper shifting?

The Arbitrage Narrows — The CME-LME spread pulled back from around $600/t to $374/t. Is that wide enough to keep incentivising US imports, and what does the forward curve tell us about where things are headed?

June 30th Countdown — The next US Section 232 tariff announcement is approaching fast. Albert gives his honest assessment of what to expect — and why even seasoned market participants are treating it as a genuine coin flip.

Peru vs. Chile — Peru just recorded its best ever Q1 copper output while Chile hit its worst since 2017. Albert breaks down the structural reasons behind these diverging trajectories and whether the trend has further to run.

The Week Ahead — Wednesday's US inflation print is the key data point to watch. Albert also flags LME cancellations and the arbitrage as the copper-specific signals worth tracking closely.

Plus: Albert previews his meetings with miners and financials in New York — and reveals the three questions everyone in the room will want answered.

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Copper Weekly is produced by Benchmark, the leading independent price reporting agency and market intelligence provider for critical minerals and energy transition metals.

Benchmark’s Copper Service delivers in‑depth analysis of prices, trade flows, supply and demand fundamentals, smelter and mine dynamics, and regional physical markets – helping producers, traders, consumers and investors understand what is really driving the copper market.

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For questions about this episode, or to speak directly with our copper analysts and team, contact us at: copper@benchmarkminerals.com