METALS-Shanghai copper gains on China stimulus hope

March 4 (Reuters) - Shanghai copper prices rose on Tuesday on hopes of more stimulus from China, the world's biggest metals consumer, and some improvement in the country's factory activities.

The most-active copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 rose 0.1% to 77,090 yuan ($10,580.28) a metric ton by 0143 GMT.

The base metal sector gained amid signs of improved factory activity in China ahead of the National People's Congress (NPC) gathering on March 5, with expectations for further stimulus to support the economy, said Daniel Hynes, a senior commodity strategist at ANZ bank.

China's manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in three months in February and the reading should reassure officials that last year's stimulus measures are helping shore up a patchy recovery in the world's second-largest economy.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada will take effect from Tuesday, stoking fears of a trade war in North America and sending financial markets reeling.

JP Morgan expects the global deficit in refined copper to grow to 160,000 metric tons in 2026 and continues to forecast copper prices averaging around $11,000 per metric ton next year.

The global refined copper market showed a 22,000 metric ton deficit in December, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) report showed.

SHFE aluminium SAFcv1 rose 0.3% to 20,700 yuan a ton, zinc SZNcv1 climbed 0.4% to 23,730 yuan, nickel SNIcv1 gained 1.1% to 127,450 yuan and tin SSNcv1 rose 0.5% to 256,740 yuan. Lead SPBcv1 eased 0.1% to 17,225 yuan.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) CMCU3 slipped 0.5% to $9,373 a metric ton. LME aluminium CMAL3 advanced 0.2% to $2,616.5 a ton, zinc CMZN3 lost 0.5% to $2,829, nickel CMNI3 fell 0.6% to $15,800, tin CMSN3 firmed 0.4% to $31,685 and lead CMPB3 shed 0.2% to $1,988.

($1 = 7.2862 Chinese yuan renminbi)