LONDON, June 30 Reuters Copper prices fell on Thursday and were down almost 20 in the second quarter, the biggest quarterly fall since 2011, after COVID lockdowns in China and slowing economic growth curtailed demand.

Other industrial metals were also headed for their biggest quarterly fall in several years, down between 20 and 40.

Many analysts fear further declines in the near term, as central banks push ahead with rapid interest rate rises that will stifle growth.

We still see metals falling as a recession in the U.S. is fully priced in, said Commerzbank analyst Daniel Briesemann.

Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange LME was down 1.1 at 8,306 a tonne by 1047 GMT and down 19.9 since the start of April.

Copper fell 19.8 in the first quarter of 2020, when COVID19 spread worldwide. There has been no other quarterly plunge on that scale since 2011.

Briesemann said copper could slip as low as 7,0007,500 in Q3, but prices should rise towards the yearend.

MARKETS Global stock markets have suffered the worst first half of the year on record.

DOLLAR The dollar is set for its biggest quarterly gain since 2016, making metals priced in the currency costlier for nonU.S. buyers.

CHINA Chinese factory activity rose slightly in June after three months of contraction caused by COVID lockdowns.

JAPAN Japan39;s manufacturing output saw its biggest monthly drop in two years in May.

PRICES LME aluminium was down 0.5 at 2,459.50 a tonne and down almost 30 in Q2; zinc…