31.   The drop in output comes at the same time that London Metal Exchange copper stockpiles are declining.

32.   The disruptions come as copper stockpiles registered to the London Metal Exchange are less than half of levels a year ago.

33.   This was mostly offset by declines in copper stockpiles in Europe.

34.   This partly offset concern about high copper stockpiles.

35.   To be sure, copper stockpiles are falling.

36.   U.S. copper stockpiles, which recently posted their first increases since the end of August, have resumed their decline.

37.   Weaker Asian demand has contributed to an almost tripling of copper stockpiles in London Metal Exchange warehouses since late June.

38.   While Chinese demand may be growing, so are London Metal Exchange copper stockpiles, which rose during the past week after nine weeks of declines.