London metal prices edged higher on Monday, following robust trade data from China, while zinc rallied as a crackdown on pollution in China dampened growth in mine supply.

China's exports and imports unexpectedly accelerated last month in an encouraging sign for the world's second-biggest economy, though analysts expect growth to continue cooling amid a government crackdown on financial risks and polluting factories.

Authorities had unveiled fresh regulatory measures last month for the financial sector, clamping down on high-risk lending and halting some dubious infrastructure projects that would swell local governments' debt.

“Base metal prices... found some support in the Chinese trade data. However, the gains were muted as investors remained cautious leading into the year-end,” said ANZ in a report.

London Metal Exchange zinc rallied 1 per cent, pushing back above support at its 100-day moving average (DMA) on concerns of dwindling mine supply. China's zinc production fell by 1.1 per cent year-on-year in November to 423,000 tonnes, said Antaike.

The state-backed research firm expects 2017 production to drop by 60,000 tonnes-80,000 tonnes year-on-year.

LME copper cut early gains to $6,577 a tonne, by 0442 GMT, still marginally in positive territory, after closing little changed in the previous session and finishing the week down nearly 4 per cent. Prices have climbed by 19 per cent so far this year, in line with gains in aluminium, zinc and lead.

China's rising copper imports “backs up our view that a tightening copper-concentrate market is pushing many buyers into the refined metal market to satisfy its copper units,” said ANZ.

“We've seen good buying support again (on copper) so probably won't run too far lower from here,” a Singapore-based trader said.

Shanghai Futures Exchange copper traded neutral at 51,490 yuan ($7,783) a tonne. Shanghai rebar cuts gains to 1.5 per cent, while Dalian iron ore eased to 1.4 per cent gains from as much as 4 per cent.

US job growth increased at a strong clip in November, painting a portrait of a healthy economy that analysts say does not require the kind of fiscal stimulus that President Donald Trump is proposing, even though wage gains remain moderate.

China's producer price inflation slowed to a four-month low in November as factory activity softened due to the government's efforts to curb pollution, cooling demand from factories for raw materials.

The Congolese lower house of parliament has adopted a new mining code that will increase taxes and royalties, an aide to the parliament speaker said.

Speculators slashed their long positions on COMEX copper futures and options by around a third to 54,881 positions in the latest week, Comex data showed

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