Chinese companies and investors are stepping up their purchases of industrial commodities such as copper in a show of confidence in the global economy that stands in contrast to the turmoil in western markets.

The wave of buying is providing support for metals and minerals prices after commodities prices fell this month amid worries about a double-dip recession. Senior executives at trading houses, mining companies and banks said Chinese consumers had used the recent drop in prices to rebuild stocks.

“China is significantly less pessimistic relative to people in the western world,” said Raymond Key, head of metals trading at Deutsche Bank. “On dips they are restocking, especially in copper.” An executive at a large Chinese trading house said: “There is no doubt some traders have been buying [copper] recently.”