METALS-Copper climbs on supply worries, China demand concerns limit gains

BEIJING, June 19 (Reuters) - Copper prices rose on Wednesday, supported by supply worries and a soft U.S. dollar, although gains were capped by concerns about demand from top consumer China. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 climbed 0.5% to $9,719 per metric ton by 0206 GMT, while the most-traded July copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 was 0.2% higher at 78,680 yuan ($10,843.74) a ton. Anglo American's AAL.L copper output at its Los Bronces mine in Chile is expected to fall nearly a third from average historical levels next year as the miner pauses a processing plant for maintenance, the company's Chile head said on Tuesday. Shortages of mined copper have been a reason for a price rally this year. The record high prices have dampened copper consumption in China. And, this week's disappointing economic data has added to the demand concerns. A fall in China's spot demand triggered rare large-scale exports, pushing LME stockpiles higher, ANZ analysts said in a note. Copper stocks on LME warehouses rose to the highest since January on Monday. MCUSTX-TOTAL The dollar steadied on Wednesday, nursing losses after soft U.S. retail sales data reinforced bets of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts. A softer dollar makes it cheaper to buy the greenback-priced commodity. Most other metals ticked up. LME nickel CMNI3 added 0.1% to $17,310 a ton, aluminium CMAL3 climbed 0.6% to $2,502.50, zinc CMZN3 advanced 0.8% to $2,859.50 and lead CMPB3 rose 1.7% to $2,229, while tin CMSN3 dipped 0.1% to $32,110. SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 increased 0.7% to 20,515 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 gained 1.2% to 23,745 yuan, and tin SSNcv1 moved 0.2% higher to 267,890 yuan, lead SPBcv1 was up 2.5% at 19,365 yuan, nickel SNIcv1 declined 1.1% to 134,130 yuan a ton, For the top stories in metals and other news, click TOP/MTL or MET/L ($1 = 7.2558 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Siyi Liu and Colleen Howe; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) (([email protected];)) (( For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets: LME price overview RING= COMEX copper futures 0#HG: All metals news MTL All commodities news C Foreign exchange rates FX= SPEED GUIDES LME/INDEX ))