Copper and aluminum prices edged lower in thin holiday trading as the Lunar New Year break kept many Asian traders away from their desks. The decline came amid rising stockpiles of copper and ongoing tariff uncertainty that weighed on market sentiment. Industrial metals typically see reduced liquidity during the holiday period as major trading hubs in China and other Asian markets operate with skeleton crews.

Rising copper stockpiles have been a persistent concern for the market, with inventory levels climbing despite seasonal demand expectations. The tariff uncertainty adds another layer of complexity, as traders assess potential impacts on both supply chains and end-user demand. The combination of these factors created a cautious trading environment even before the holiday slowdown.

Market participants are closely watching inventory data and trade policy developments for signals about the metals market's direction. The holiday period typically sees prices consolidate as liquidity dries up, but the underlying fundamentals remain in focus. With major industrial consumers in Asia largely offline for the celebrations, price movements are likely to remain subdued until trading volumes return to normal levels.