The July MMI Report: Metals Markets Post a Down Month as Trade Tensions Rise

It was another busy month in the world of metals.
Then again, these days quiet months in metals or in trade, generally, are few and far between.
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Trade tensions continued to rise, as $34 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods went into effect (China responded in kind), and an additional $16 billion in tariffs are under review. This week, President Donald Trump announced the intention to impose an additional $200 billion in tariffs on China, ratcheting up the stakes even further.
Meanwhile, a Section 232 investigation focusing on imports of automobiles and automotive components is unfolding. More than 2,300 public comments were submitted as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s review process, and public hearings are scheduled for next week.
Meanwhile, in metals markets, most base metals were down last month, with steel being the exception.
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A few highlights from this month’s round of Monthly Metal Index (MMI) reports:

  • Since peaking at $7,316/mt in June, the LME copper price dropped 12%.
  • The subindex for grain-oriented electrical steel was the only MMI to post an increase on the month.
  • The U.S. silver price hit its lowest level since January 2017, while U.S. gold bullion dropped to a one-year low.
  • Aluminum prices were also part of the general downtrend, as prices continued to move away from this year’s April peak (after Russian companies and their owners, including aluminum giant Rusal, were slapped with sanctions by the U.S.).

Read about all of the above and much more by downloading the July MMI report below.
[s3medialinksafe title=”Download the Report Here” file=”MMIReport_July2018.pdf” expireseconds=”300″ target=”_blank” /]

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