The Swiss company Foest – Alpine Intertrading has been waiting for a rise in the international prices of copper before expanding the capacity of its Bulgarian plant Assarel – Medet in the town of Panagyuriste. At the moment prices of non-ferrous metals on the London Metal Exchange have drastically fallen, which necessitates reconsidering investment programs of major producers. Less than a month ago, another leading producer, Union Miniere, announced that it would postpone the construction of a new facility in Bulgaria.