METALS-Copper firms on upbeat China factory data, supply disruption woes

BEIJING, April 30 (Reuters) - Copper prices drifted higher on Thursday, bolstered by upbeat factory data in top consumer China and potential supply disruptions as key input ingredients run low.

Benchmark three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.5% to $13,070 per metric ton by 0229 GMT following five straight days of losses.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 was up 0.24% at 101,500 yuan ($14,840.70) per ton.

China's manufacturing sector expanded in April at its fastest pace since the end of 2020, with the monthly reading at 52.2, higher than analysts' forecast of 51, thanks to stronger output and surging new orders, a private survey showed on Thursday.

The official factory data also pointed to a second straight monthly expansion in April.

Additional price support came from supply-side risks linked to the Iran war, especially constraints on inputs such as sulphur, according to analysts at ING in a note.

U.S. President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. president urged Tehran to "get smart soon" and sign a deal. O/R

Investors are also closely monitoring how the diesel shortage stemming from the prolonged Iran war will impact mined supply.

Among other LME metals, aluminium CMAL3 added 0.33%, nickel CMNI3 gained 0.59%, lead CMPB3 was flat, tin CMSN3 rose 1.33%, and zinc CMZN3 advanced 0.39%.

Other SHFE metals mostly lost ground amid risk-off sentiment as the Shanghai bourse will be closed from May 1 to May 5 for China's May Day holiday.

Aluminium SAFcv1 dipped 0.18%, nickel SNIcv1 shed 0.25%, lead SPBcv1 fell 0.54%, zinc SZNcv1 slid 0.78% while tin SSNcv1 gained 0.83%.

($1 = 6.8393 Chinese yuan)