The National Commission of Mercurials of the Ministry of Foreign Trade announces a downward trend in prices in its weekly projections from June 27 to July 2.

There will be a general downward trend in prices on the international market. Copper, zinc, tin, gold and tantalum will fall to 8960 US dollars per ton, 3640 dollars against 3702 dollars, 33 150 dollars per ton (36 233 dollars per ton last week); 59.31 dollars per gram (59.38 dollars per gram last week) and 405 dollars per kilo (410 dollars per kilo last week) respectively. In this regard, the Chamber of Mines believes that the $650 million in mining royalties in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces could have been used otherwise. However, the forthcoming exploitation of nickel and lithium due to strong demand suggests good prospects.