The price of copper has entered 2011 at a record high.
On Monday, it $9,728 a tonne in London, up from Friday's peak of $9,600.
Predicted global economic growth in 2011 means copper prices will probably continue to rise as they have in five of the past seven trading sessions.
The expectations of high demand has come from US manufacturing data, which has confirmed factory output grew in December at its fastest pace since May.
Chinese demand for copper is also expected to continue to grow strongly.
