Gadget-hungry China to boost 'lifestyle' metals: PwC

Melbourne

CHINA'S swelling middle class is poised to drive long-term demand gains for metals including copper, zinc and nickel as the world's second-largest economy transitions to consumer-driven growth, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia.

The urbanisation of the world's most populous nation, which moved about 300 million people to cities in the past 20 years, promises to herald an increased need for metals required to make every kind of consumer product from smartphones to refrigerators, PwC Australia's Melbourne-based national mining leader Chris Dodd said in an interview.

"We're heading towards the period in China for the lifestyle metals to really come to the fore," Mr Dodd explained. "If you currently have a mobile phone in your hand you are not going to tolerate a scenario where you don't have one in …