Most analysts have raised their price forecasts for most LME metals, according to two separate surveys published by Reuters last week. Reuters surveyed views both on likely annual average prices in 2010 and for long-term (beyond 10 years) averages. The biggest upward revisions were for copper in the short-term and lead in the long-term, while “consensus” views on the tin outlook were raised over both time frames.

The middle of the range of analysts’ forecasts for the LME tin price in 2010 is $15,800 per tonne, up 6% from the median in the previous survey, conducted in July. The median long-term price forecast for tin is now $14,500/tonne, 16% higher than in the previous survey carried out in October 2008.