Adds analyst comment, updates prices, changes dateline

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, July 16 (Reuters) - Copper prices slipped on Wednesday as concern eased about supply disruptions and inventories continued rising amid uncertainty about the impact of U.S. tariffs.

Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 was 0.4% weaker at $9,610 per metric ton at 0945 GMT, down from a three-month peak just over $10,000 touched on July 2.

"There hasn't been any additional supply disruptions to push prices higher across the various exchanges," said Nitesh Shah, commodity strategist at WisdomTree.

Protesters have lifted blockades in Peru, the world's third biggest copper producer, that blocked a major copper transit route for more than two weeks, one of the protest leaders told Reuters late on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto RIO.L on Wednesday posted 9% higher quarterly copper output and forecast full-year production at the higher end of its guidance range.

At the same time, a flow of copper to the U.S. by traders anticipating tariffs has tapered off following the announcement that 50% duties would be imposed on August 1.

"The inventory drain from the LME and Shanghai has plateaued and almost reversed. You're starting to see a build-up in both locations," Shah added.

LME copper stocks MCUSTX-TOTAL gained by another 10,525 tons, data showed on Wednesday, having jumped by a third over the past 2-1/2 weeks.

U.S. Comex copper futures HGc3 dropped 0.9% to $5.53 a lb, bringing the premium of Comex over LME copper to $2,579 a ton.

Investors were also digesting data on Tuesday showing China's economy slowed less than expected in the second quarter.

"The GDP print, hitting slightly above target, takes away the need for additional stimulus, and that may potentially constrain copper prices," Shah said.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SCFcv1 added 0.1% to 77,980 yuan ($10,865.11) a ton.

Among other metals, LME aluminium CMAL3 fell 0.4% to $2,571 a ton, nickel CMNI3 lost 0.7% to $15,045, zinc CMZN3 shed 0.5% to $2,683.50, lead CMPB3 eased 0.6% to $1,985.50 and tin CMSN3 dipped 0.1% to $33,295.

($1 = 7.1771 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Eric Onstad
Editing by Mark Potter)

((eric.onstad@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7093; Twitter https://twitter.com/reutersEricO; Reuters Messaging: eric.onstad.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

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