Feb 24 (Reuters) - Copper prices in London rose slightly on Friday, as mining supply disruptions across the globe worsened with the suspension of ore processing at a key mine in Panama.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange edged up 0.3% to $8,926.50 a tonne by 0130 GMT.
First Quantum Minerals Ltd said on Thursday it had suspended ore processing at its Cobre Panama mine. It has been locked in a prolonged contract dispute with the Panama government over tax and royalties.
Copper supply in Indonesia, Peru and Chile is also facing disruptions, although analysts and traders believe they are not severe enough to shift the copper concentrate market balance into a deficit this year.
Despite Friday's gain, LME copper will likely post a weekly decline due to subdued demand in top consumer China.
The most-traded April copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 1.3% to 69,290 yuan ($10,031.13) a tonne, tracking overnight losses in London.
Yangshan copper premium
LME zinc dipped 0.1% to $3,032.50 a tonne, tin declined 0.5% to $26,030 a tonne while lead rose 0.8% to $2,072.50 a tonne.
SHFE aluminium fell 0.8% to 18,590 yuan a tonne, nickel dropped 3.4% to 199,560 yuan a tonne, tin shed 3% to 211,240 yuan a tonne, zinc edged down 0.1% to 23,475 yuan a tonne and lead decreased 0.5% to 15,330 yuan a tonne.
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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
0700 Germany GDP Detailed QQ SA, YY NSA Q4
1330 US Consumption, Adjusted MM Jan
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1500 US U Mich Sentiment Final Feb
1500 US New Home Sales-Units Jan
($1 = 6.9075 yuan) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)