Metal

China’s iron ore imports in April ticked up 1.1% from the previous month, reaching 101.82 million metric tons, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. This was higher than the 100.72 million tons imported in March and the 90.44 million tons imported in April 2023. The increase in imports was mainly attributed to […]

According to a report by Johnson Matthey, the platinum market is expected to face its largest supply shortfall in 10 years in 2024. The autocatalyst maker said it expects all platinum group metals (PGMs) – platinum, palladium, and rhodium – to remain in deficit next year. Johnson Matthey (JM) forecasts the platinum market’s deficit to […]

Japanese steelmakers have raised concerns with Australian authorities about BHP Group’s potential takeover of Anglo American, fearing the deal could make BHP too dominant in the global supply of coking coal. Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coking coal, with around 60% of Japan’s imports coming from the state of Queensland, where BHP and […]

China’s unwrought copper imports in April fell 7.6% from the previous month, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. Imports of unwrought copper and products in China, the world’s biggest consumer of the metal, were 438,000 metric tons in April, compared with 474,000 tons in March. However, imports were still 7.5% higher than […]

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised its coal export forecast upwards, driven by stronger-than-expected February data and progress in restoring access to the Port of Baltimore, a key export hub. Meanwhile, domestic coal production saw a decline in April. According to the EIA, metallurgical coal exports, primarily produced in Appalachia, are expected to […]

Pilbara Minerals, Australia’s largest independent lithium producer, has expressed openness to pursuing acquisition opportunities to grow its business, but has stated that investing in its existing assets will be the priority. During the Macquarie Australia Conference, Pilbara Minerals CEO Dale Henderson said the company is “considering and looking at inorganic growth opportunities,” but emphasized that […]

Europe’s largest copper producer, Aurubis AG, has reported better-than-expected first-half core profit, thanks to lower electricity and gas prices. The company’s operating earnings before taxes (EBIT) rose 2% to 243 million euros ($260.96 million) in the first half of the year, beating the consensus estimate of 233 million euros. However, Aurubis’ group revenue for the […]

Despite calls from the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) to impose a moratorium on new nickel smelter construction, the Indonesian government maintains that the country’s nickel reserves are sufficient to support expanded processing operations. Mohamad Faizal, the director for downstream strategic investment at the Investment Ministry, stated that Indonesia’s high-grade nickel reserves will last until […]

According to Eduardo Mello Franco, marketing manager for pricing at Brazilian mining company Vale, China’s iron ore imports in 2024 are expected to be around 1.170 to 1.180 billion metric tons, similar to the 1.18 billion tons imported in the previous year. Mello Franco shared this forecast during an industry conference in Singapore, noting that […]

The Indonesian government has announced that it will extend the copper concentrate export permits for Freeport Indonesia and Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (Amman). The current permits are set to expire on May 31, but President Joko Widodo has confirmed that the details of the extensions are still being worked out. Both Freeport Indonesia and Amman […]