The Financial Post reports in its Thursday, May 14, edition that copper extended gains above $14,000 a ton, as supply risks mount from mine disruptions around the world (all figures U.S.). A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that copper rallied for an eighth session to touch $14,196.50 a ton on the London Metal Exchange, close to its all-time high of $14,527.50. A shortage of Middle Eastern sulphur supplies is impacting production at some African mines and worsening disruptions at other major global sites, as sulphur is essential in processing roughly one-sixth of the world's copper. The slew of supply issues, combined with resilient demand, is driving a notable recovery in industrial metals as worries over the Iran conflict ease. Copper futures on New York's Comex surged to a record $6.69 a pound, creating a premium of over $500 a ton compared with LME copper. Anticipated United States tariffs on refined metal imports are attracting refined copper to the U.S. and depleting supplies elsewhere. The U.S. Commerce Secretary is due to deliver an updated report on the domestic copper market by June 30, part of a broader push to bolster supplies of a metal critical to global electrification.