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Tin prices strengthened on the non-ferrous metals market this week as a result of stockist purchases due to firm demand from alloy industries.

According to a report from the Business Standard, tin joined copper cable scrap, zinc and copper wire bar as having also moved up due to growing demand from their industrial bases.

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This growth may only be temporary, as our own Irene Martinez Canorea wrote just last month that the outlook remains bearish for the tin metal market.

She wrote that, similar to its sister metals, tin prices declined starting from the beginning of June. A market analysis of tin prices and trading activity indicates a more bearish outcome for the metal.

Canorea wrote: “According to the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI), the fluctuation of tin stocks has varied based upon tin prices in the market. Indonesian exports remain robust, with an increase of 10% in May compared to April. However, Myanmar tin exports decreased slightly again in May. This reduction of Myanmar output is expected to continue until the end of this year, as analyzed in detail in our monthly forecast reports.”

China Influencing Tin Prices

Canorea also noted that tin prices may also be impacted by the approval of a new Chinese policy that will directly affect the largest tin-producing company in China.

She added: “This policy consists of the removal of the valued-added tax (VAT) structure, which taxes imports of tin concentrates and was supposed to provide a tax rebate of 17% on exports. The catch? Exporters were never able to collect the rebate, so they ended up buying tin exclusively from domestic sources.”

How will tin and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth tin price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

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What is already a global copper deficit could worsen this year with more mines expected to be affected by worker strikes in the coming months.

According to a report by Reuters, South American copper mines are bracing for additional strikes, but polls indicate price movements have already been taken this information into account.

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“We will mostly likely see more disruptions later this year … but they are not to be as severe, and the price impacts should be largely priced in,” economist Amy Li at National Australia Bank in Melbourne, told Reuters.

The previous strikes Li is referring to were earlier this year in the world’s largest copper mine at Chile’s Escondida and the No. 2 Grasberg mine in Indonesia.

Reuters also reported copper traded on the London Metal Exchange increased 8% this year, ranking fourth of the six main LME-traded metals.

Copper Prices to Fall?

Despite a perceived shortage in global production of the metal, numerous reports have copper at risk for a price shortfall. The reason? Slow Chinese economic growth, which could take 10% or more off copper prices in the next several months.

“We expect several of the recent drivers of industrial metals — especially stronger economic growth in China — to slow going into the second half of the year,” Seth Rosenfeld, senior research analyst at Jefferies told Fox Business.

How will copper and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth copper price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

A major shake-up in the global aluminum industry as Norwegian firm Norsk Hydro will fully own aluminum products maker Sapa after buying a 50% stake from conglomerate Orkla.

According to a recent report from Reuters, this transaction values Sapa at $3.24 billion on a debt-free basis.

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Hydro produces primary aluminum from scratch, but by combining with Sapa, enhances its capabilities to become an integral supplier for automotive firms, aircraft makers and the construction sector.

“Sapa will enable us to assume global leadership, establish a platform for growth, and provide responsible operations and sustainable solutions for the future low-carbon economy,” Hydro Chief Executive Svein Richard Brandtzaeg told the news source.

He added: “The combination will make Hydro the only global company in the aluminum industry that is fully integrated across the value chain and markets.”

Automotive MMI Grows in June

The aluminum component remains a significant one for the automotive industry. According to recent analysis from our own Fouad Egbaria, the Automotive Monthly Metals Index rebounded from a reverse in May to move forward in June.

Egbaria wrote: “Although the increase was small, the one-point jump is an encouraging sign, as it marked the first increase for the sub-index since early this year, when it jumped from 82 to the February reading of 92. After that 92 mark, the sub-index posted four straight months of decreases.”

How will aluminum and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth aluminum price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

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Steel stocks rose earlier this week following reports that President Donald Trump could soon place tariffs on foreign steel companies.

According to a report from CNBC, U.S. Steel climbed more than 2% while AK Steel and Nucor each traded at 3% and 1% higher, respectively.

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Meanwhile, steel companies from around the would wait with bated breath on the Department of Commerce’s findings into its Section 232 investigation, which will determine whether foreign-made steel imports impact U.S. national security.

“There is a lot of anticipation that there is going to be a statement by the Commerce Department today or later this week that suggests Trump impose something like the 232 tariffs,” Macquarie managing director Aldo Mazzaferro told CNBC.

Impacting Steel Stocks

Citing sources speaking to Reuters, Trump is impatient with China and is looking to impose tariffs on steel imports from the Far East nation. This is impacting steel stocks in a major way.

“Supportive trade policy actions such as Section 232, could be a catalyst to change investor perception,” research analyst Jorge Beristain wrote. “We now have Buys on all Steels & Service Center names as they should benefit from stronger U.S. economic growth and rising trade protectionism.”

Beristain added steel demand in the first five months of 2017 is up 4% compared to the same time frame last year. In addition, Trump’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure plan will likely also increase demand for steel.

How will steel and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth steel price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

Nickel has been in the throes of a long bear market, but there are reasons to be optimistic about a price bounceback for this industrial metal.

According to a recent report from the Financial Times, demand from China and the electric car battery market heating up could spur a nickel price boost in the coming months.

However, investors should still exercise caution.

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“True, there are plenty of negatives out there,” writes Alan Livsey for the Financial Times. “Supply growth from smelters in China and Indonesia has yet to abate. Forced destocking from end users and traders has made matters worse. Goldman Sachs expects net supply growth will nearly triple in 2018 from the estimated 37,000 tonnes this year.”

Livsey added if supply can be curtailed and demand grows as projected, nickel’s once low reputation with investors could see a significant change in direction.

Are Commodities as a Whole ‘Losing their Roar’?

Our own Irene Martinez Canorea recently wrote how June has not been particularly kind to metal producers, beginning with the U.S. Federal Reserve spiking interest rates up by 0.25%.

She writes: “The most recent Fed rate hike breathed a little life into the dollar, which has fallen for most of this year. We believe this could have a direct impact on the metals industry — namely, causing prices to fall.”

How will nickel and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth nickel price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

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The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) released preliminary data for this year, which showed the global market for refined zinc metal was in deficit during the first four months of the year. Total reported zinc inventories also declined during that time.

The ILZSG report stated that world zinc mine production grew 7.3% for the first four months of 2017 compared to the same time last year, mostly due to increased output in China, India, Peru, Turkey and Eritrea.

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Furthermore, growth in refined zinc metal production in France, Kazakhstan and India were offset by reductions in Peru, Canada and the Republic of Korea, leading to an overall worldwide increase of 1.6%.

Worldwide refined zinc metal demand grew 3.7% during this time frame, mostly due to a 42.9% recovery in apparent usage in the U.S.

China’s Effect on Zinc Prices

The ILZSG report stated: “China imported a total of 385kt of zinc contained in zinc concentrates, an increase of 58kt compared to the same period of 2016. Chinese net imports of refined zinc metal amounted to 99kt, a decrease of 114kt.”

How will zinc and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth zinc price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

Macro photo of a piece of lead ore

The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) released its findings for June, showing global refined lead metal demand exceeded supply during the first four months of the year.

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In addition, the ILZSG report revealed total reported stock levels increased during that same time frame. An increase in worldwide lead mine production, to the tune of 13% year-over-year (compared to the first four months of 2016), is primarily the result of increased production in China.

Furthermore, a global refined lead metal output increase of 8.4% can be attributed to India, China and the United States.

The ILZSG report states: “A sharp rise in net imports was the main influence on an increase in US apparent demand of 22.8%. There was also a strong rise in Chinese apparent usage of 16.4%. European demand increased by a more modest 1.5% with overall global demand up by 11.15%.”

How will lead and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth lead price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report.

For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

Tin prices continue to suffer with Chinese competition and Shanghai trading counteracting limited supply on the London Metal Exchange (LME).

Generally speaking, limited supply of a commodity should translate to a rise in price — this has not been the case for tin.

In a recent opinion piece for Bloomberg, Shelley Goldberg, founder and principal at Invest-with-Purpose, writes that despite tin inventory at LME warehouses reaching 20-year lows, prices are also down, to the tune of more than 5% since the start of the year.

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The reason? Goldberg writes that exchange trading competition from China is to blame.

Goldberg writes: “Low inventory levels have also historically resulted in an increase in both volume and open interest; however, for LME tin they have been falling, too. Average LME daily tin volumes this year slipped by 14 percent from January to April, compared with the same period a year earlier. On an annual basis they fell 7 percent in 2016 and 31 percent in 2015. Open interest has also been declining, totaling 16,152 lots at the end of April, compared with 22,563 lots a year earlier.”

Reconciling the SFE and LME

She added that LME is no longer the exclusive exchange for data and information on the metals markets, as the Shanghai Futures Exchange is now challenging its monopoly.

Goldberg concludes: “The bottom line is that attempting to arbitrage LME and Shanghai tin is not as easy as it may seem (different currencies, contract sizes, terms, and so on). But suffice it to say, assessing the tin markets from a more global perspective will undoubtedly provide a better perspective not only on the tin market, but on the world’s economy.”

How will tin fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth tin price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report. For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

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Copper prices rallied late last week on the heels of severe weather striking several South American mines, as well as labor issues cropping up in Indonesia.

According to a report from MarketWatch, copper prices climbed 1.12% to $5,688 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange last Thursday morning.

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Copper had previously opened the month on the low end, but unexpected weather and labor issues quickly reversed that trend:

“Those mine disruptions in Chile are the major supply-side news this week,” BOCI Global Commodities’s Xiao Fu told the news source.

In China, import data revealed an 8.5% month-over-month increase in refined copper imports.

“That increase is a fairly substantial one and is helping prices rebound after being beaten up over the past few weeks,” ETF Securities strategist Nitesh Shah told the news source.

Copper Prices Affected by Chinese Demand

The MetalMiner Copper MMI remained steady in June. Writes our own Irene Martinez Canorea:

“Currently, copper prices are directly affected by Chinese demand, as well as by uncertainty in supply. This downtrend in copper prices might be just a brief pause in a dynamic market. Thus, copper-buying organizations should watch the market closely, looking for a possible uptrend that would show a recovery.”

How will copper and base metals fare in 2017? You can find a more in-depth copper price forecast and outlook in our brand-new Monthly Metal Buying Outlook report. For a short- and long-term buying strategy with specific price thresholds:

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Aluminum exports from Qatar hit a roadblock, and it could be some time before the situation is resolved.

According to a recent Reuters report, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut ties with Qatar, leading to an aluminum manufacturing plant, partly owned by Norway’s Norsk Hydro, to seek other routes for export.

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The reason for top Arab nations breaking ties with Qatar? Alleged support of Islamic militants, which Qatar denies.

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