--- title: "U.S. Bets Billions of Dollars in Low-Cost Loans -2-" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/290587435.md" description: "Iron ore and copper prices fell in early Asian trading. Iron ore dropped due to weak demand, high coke costs squeezing margins, and loose supply from increased shipments. Copper declined as easing supply concerns and softer demand outweighed long-term electrification support, despite resilient renewables demand." datetime: "2026-06-23T15:39:41.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/290587435.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/290587435.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/290587435.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # U.S. Bets Billions of Dollars in Low-Cost Loans -2- 0224 GMT - Iron ore falls in early Asian trading amid weakening demand, Nanhua Futures analysts say in commentary. Higher coke prices are squeezing steel mills' rebar margins, curbing appetite for additional ore purchases. Downstream restocking demand also remains subdued, the analysts add. Meanwhile, supply conditions remain loose, with iron ore shipments to China rising sharply this year as Australian, Brazilian and other producers continue ramping up volumes. Against the current backdrop, prices are expected to trend lower in search of a bottom, Nanhua says. The most actively traded September iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange is 0.9% lower at 736.00 yuan a ton. (jason.chau@wsj.com) -- Copper Prices Fall, Weighed by Easing Supply Concerns, Softer Demand -- Market Talk 0220 GMT - Copper prices are lower in early trade, weighed down by easing supply concerns and softer demand. Global copper concentrate shipments have increased since April, suggesting some improvement in mine supply, Xinda Futures analysts write in a note. That said, China's concentrate imports remain weak and treatment charges stay near record lows, they add. Excess smelting capacity has so far prevented significant production cuts. Weakness in traditional Chinese copper-consuming sectors has only been partly offset by resilient demand from renewables, energy storage and electronics, they say. While near-term downside pressure may persist, the longer-term support from constrained mine supply and electrification-related demand remains intact. The three-month LME copper contract is down 0.4% at $13,600.00 a ton.(jiahui.huang@wsj.com; @ivy\_jiahuihuang) Write to Barcelona Editors at barcelonaeditors@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 23, 2026 11:28 ET (15:28 GMT) Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. ### Related Stocks - [PICK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PICK.US.md) - [159876.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159876.CN.md) - [DBB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DBB.US.md) - [561330.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/561330.CN.md) - [159880.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159880.CN.md) - [159881.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159881.CN.md) - [159871.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159871.CN.md) - [516650.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/516650.CN.md) - [512400.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/512400.CN.md) - [603093.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/603093.CN.md) - [02691.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/02691.HK.md) - [601059.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/601059.CN.md) - [01359.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/01359.HK.md) ## Related News & Research - [METALS-Copper gains but set to snap seven-week winning streak](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296565933.md) - [METALS-Tight availability pushes copper higher, key spread wider](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296053087.md) - [METALS-Copper prices hit 6-month peak on low inventories](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296086595.md) - [METALS-Copper cools as LME inflows stem stock fears](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296317937.md) - [METALS-Copper slips on firm dollar and concern about global economy](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295776250.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**