Metal

President Donald Trump’s plan to impose port fees of up to $1.5 million per visit on ships built in China or operated by fleets with Chinese vessels is disrupting U.S. coal and agricultural exports, industry leaders warn. The proposed fees, aimed at reviving domestic shipbuilding, have already led to shrinking vessel availability, inflated costs, and […]

India’s government has recommended a 12% provisional safeguard duty on select steel products for 200 days to counter surging imports that threaten domestic producers. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce, announced the measure after a December 2023 investigation found record imports caused “serious injury” to local mills. Key Details: […]

The European Union is drafting measures to shield its aluminum industry from a potential surge in imports diverted due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on metals, according to a leaked EU plan. The bloc is considering import limits, stricter origin rules, and export duties of up to 25% on scrap metals to prevent […]

U.S. companies are increasingly sourcing cobalt from China’s Lygend Resources (2245.HK) through its Indonesian operations to avoid steep tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Chinese and Canadian imports. Lygend, which began exporting Indonesian-produced cobalt to the U.S. last year, leverages Indonesia’s tariff-free status to offer cheaper supplies amid a 35% levy on Chinese cobalt […]

Russian aluminum giant Rusal reported a 184.8% surge in annual net profit. Rusal faces indirect sanctions pressure, including a 2024 London Metal Exchange (LME) ban on new Russian metal deliveries. While European sales still account for 20% of revenue, the company is pivoting to Asian markets and capitalizing on green energy trends. Aluminum demand in […]

Gold demand across Asia slumped this week as record-high prices deterred buyers, with Indian dealers offering discounts of up to $39/ounce—the steepest in eight months—amid dwindling purchases. Domestic prices in India, the world’s second-largest gold consumer, soared to an all-time high of ₹87,886/10 grams, prompting jewellers to avoid stocking costly inventory ahead of the fiscal […]

U.S. aluminum and steel prices hovered near recent peaks on Wednesday after 25% tariffs on imports took effect, triggering retaliatory measures from Canada and Europe. The Midwest duty-paid aluminum premium surged to a record 45 cents per pound ($990/metric ton) on Tuesday amid heated U.S.-Canada trade tensions before easing to 41 cents. Prices have soared […]

The Trump administration is moving to roll back stringent soot and greenhouse gas regulations imposed on U.S. coal-fired power plants, a policy shift designed to extend the lifespan of aging facilities and revive shuttered ones. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to revisit 2024 pollution standards set under President Biden, which targeted particulate matter […]

The U.S.-Canada trade war intensified this week as President Donald Trump briefly doubled metals tariffs to 50% before backtracking hours later, injecting fresh uncertainty into financial markets. The abrupt reversal followed Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S.—a move suspended after Trump reverted to previously planned […]

Copper prices fell on Monday, pressured by concerns that U.S. tariffs and slowing global growth could dampen demand for industrial metals. The decline followed a brief rally after President Donald Trump temporarily exempted automakers from tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Market sentiment remains fragile as investors weigh the dual threats of trade tensions and […]