BEIJING — China’s 10 major nonferrous metals saw steady output expansion in the first quarter (Q1) this year, official data showed.

Total output reached 13.7 million tons in Q1, up 6.3 percent year-on-year, 3.9 percentage points faster than Q1 2018, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Output of copper reached 2.05 million tons in the first three months, up 8.8 percent year-on-year. The country’s lead production surged 32.6 percent to 1.43 million tons.

Prices of copper, electrolytic aluminium and zinc edged up in March compared with February, while lead fell month on month.