Metal

Copper prices have fallen to their lowest levels in two months, driven by concerns regarding the economic policies of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump and their potential impact on China, the world’s largest consumer of metals. Market Performance: On the London Metal Exchange (LME), three-month copper prices (CMCU3) decreased by 2%, settling at $9,145 per […]

Ukrainian steel producers have reported significant increases in both rolled steel production and exports in 2024, according to the local steel producers’ union, Ukrmetprom. Production and Export Figures: Rolled steel output has risen by 20.6% from January to October 2024, reaching 5.3 million metric tons, compared to 4.4 million tons during the same period last […]

Chile’s state-owned copper producer, Codelco, has offered its refined copper output to Chinese clients at a premium of $89 per metric ton for 2025, according to sources familiar with the situation. This premium remains largely unchanged from the previous year, indicating stable demand for the metal, which is essential for power networks. Market Context: The […]

Copper prices continued to decline on Monday, reaching a seven-week low as the dollar strengthened amid concerns about future U.S. trade policy under President-elect Donald Trump, and demand from China, the top consumer, remained weak. Market Movement: The most-traded three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME) fell by 1.5% to $9,301 per metric […]

A survey of industry participants has found that copper concentrate processing fees, known as Treatment and Refining Charges (TC/RCs), are expected to be set at a 15-year low in 2025. This is due to the increasing tightness in raw material supply resulting from mine disruptions and an expansion in smelting capacity.As copper sector participants gather […]

China has begun allowing more private firms to engage in the domestic blending of more polluting complex copper concentrates, as disclosed by three individuals with knowledge of the situation. This move comes as the country, which smelts half of the world’s copper, is facing difficulties in securing sufficient standard grades of copper concentrates.The relaxation of […]

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) of South Africa declared on Wednesday that it had successfully negotiated and agreed upon a wage deal with Sibanye Stillwater’s SSWJ.J gold operations following months of discussions.According to NUM’s statement, the diversified miner, Sibanye, has consented to raise the monthly pay of its lowest-paid workers by 900 rand ($50.91). […]

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has put forward a plan to intensify domestic exploration of certain mineral resources in order to provide support to the energy storage manufacturing industry.Under a draft plan released on Wednesday, China is set to ramp up its endeavors to back domestic exploration of lithium, cobalt, and nickel resources. […]

On Tuesday, state-backed research house Antaike reported that the China Zinc Smelters Purchasing Team (CZSPT) has established domestic processing fees for zinc concentrate within the range of 2,000 yuan ($281.57) per metric ton to 2,500 yuan per ton for the first quarter of 2025.Moreover, the group has also set processing fees for imported cargoes at […]

On Tuesday, the local head of U.S. miner Freeport-McMoRan FCX.N, Mario Larenas, stated that the prolonged delay in implementing reforms in Chile aimed at speeding up mining permits poses a “serious” problem for the mining industry in the world’s leading copper-producing nation.Chile, which is also the world’s second-largest producer of lithium, a crucial battery metal, […]