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Copper prices fell in Shanghai trading on Monday, after a 25% rise in copper stocks last week. However, dealers said London prices could regain $8000 a ton on a positive technical outlook.

Shanghai July copper was at 68 880 yuan a ton at the close, down 540 yuan from Friday. Prices earlier climbed over 1 percent before easing.

"Imports will probably be fairly high again for April and I think that is why there is some selling around. May is quite often the peak for metals prices in the first half, so the market may be under pressure," a dealer in Shanghai said.

China'a refined copper imports were up nearly 150% in March to more than 200 000 tons and imports in the first quarter were almost 500 000 tons.