Copper declined on Thursday for a second day on speculation China's supplies will rise. Aluminum futures climbed.

Copper fell ahead of a report on copper inventories which will be released tomorrow by Shanghai Futures Exchange. Analysts expect a portion of the 22 percent drop of stockpiles this year - in London's Metal warehouses- moved to China.

Demand could slower if China shows an increase on stockpiles. The country is the first consumer of copper in the world.

Furthermore, copper prices gained support today after aluminum futures gained more than 5 percent to $2,830 a metric ton in London's trade. Investors worried that production slumps due to power shutdowns in South Africa.

Some analysts affirmed market's move to aluminum futures sent copper volumes down.

On Thursday, final estimated future volumes of copper slowed to 14,267 lots, less than the 25,140 lots on Wednesday. Open interest in COMEX copper increased 830 lots to 89,140 contracts open as of Feb. 13.

Copper futures fell 5.9 cents or 1.67 percent to $3.4845 a pound on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London Mercantile Exchange, copper prices declined $111 or 1.40 percent to $7,812 a metric ton.

South Africa Copper China