SHANGHAI (Feb 20): Most metals rose as US President Donald Trump signalled a new trade deal with top consumer China, while aluminium held steady at a one-month high on Thursday after EU envoys' agreement to ban Russian primary aluminium imports in the sanctions package.

Trump indicated that a new trade deal with China is possible, noting that the US once had a strong trade agreement with China and highlighting his positive relationship with President Xi Jinping.

Three-month aluminium on the London Metals Exchange (LME) was up 0.6% at US$2,703.5 a ton, as of 0417 GMT, its highest point since January 20.

The Russian aluminium import ban will be phased in a year from the official adoption, EU diplomats said.

The longer-term effect on metals from the geopolitical front was unclear. US President Donald Trump's administration agreed on Tuesday to hold more talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Russia is a major producer of aluminium, nickel and copper. The LME banned supplies of Russian metals made after April 2024 to its system last year.

Meanwhile, sources told Reuters that the Trump administration may seek to strike a simplified minerals deal with Ukraine to get a pact in place quickly and later negotiate detailed terms, such as how much of Ukraine's vast resources the US would own.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) edged 0.5% higher to US$9,512 a metric ton.

Zinc added 0.4% to US$2,888, tin gained 0.6% to US$32,895, lead rose 0.2% to US$2,001 and nickel gained 0.8% to US$15,530.

SHFE aluminium gained 0.6% to 20,805 yuan (US$2,862.63) a ton, SHFE copper rose 0.4% to 77,330 yuan, nickel climbed 0.5% to 124,390 yuan, while zinc lost 0.1% to 23,950 yuan, lead rose 0.2% to 17,065 yuan, and tin gained 0.3% to 262,280 yuan.

Uploaded by Lam Seng Fatt