IN BRIEF : China to Ban Some Metals Exports

BEIJING — Starting Jan. 1, China will ban exports of copper, aluminum and four other metal products because of short supplies on the domestic market, the official Xinhua News Agency reported today.

The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade also banned sales of nickel, nickel products, platinum and yellow phosphorus, it said. Alloys of copper, aluminum and nickel also will go on the list. A ministry official said China exported nickel products worth $47.5 million, aluminum worth $31.2 million, copper worth $23.3 million and yellow phosphorus worth $9.8 million in 1987. There were no figures for platinum exports. China is trying to cope with serious raw materials shortages that have led to sharply higher prices, hoarding and profiteering.