This morning in metals news: US nonfarm payroll employment rose by 559,000 in May; the EU plans to impose carbon emissions costs on imports of steel, cement and electricity, Reuters reported; and the LME copper price dropped below $10,000 per metric ton. Each month, MetalMiner hosts a webinar on a specific metals topic. Explore the […]
Year: 2021
Rare earth oxide prices drop as China loosens production quotas
China’s rare earth (RE) oxides market is a controlled market — or at least it is today. There was a time it was the mining equivalent of the wild west with multiple operators. There were once zero controls and, as a result, the sector’s operations led to massive environmental damage. The authorities stepped in, consolidated […]
This Morning in Metals: General Motors to increase deliveries to US, Canadian customers
This morning in metals news: General Motors says it will increase vehicle deliveries to customers in the US and Canada; US nonfarm business sector labor productivity rose by 5.4% in the first quarter; and crude oil prices continue to rise. Each month, MetalMiner hosts a webinar on a specific metals topic. Explore the upcoming webinars […]
European hot rolled coil prices show no sign of slowing, some end-users complain of shortages
Hot rolled coil prices in Western Europe have not slowed their upward trek over the past month. Demand continues to outstrip supply for the flat-rolled product, industry watchers said June 1. “It has everything to do with high demand in Europe and the United States,” one trader told MetalMiner. The MetalMiner Best Practice Library offers […]
This Morning in Metals: Steel capacity utilization rate rises to 81.5%
This morning in metals news: the US steel capacity utilization rate reached 81.5% last week; meanwhile, miner Glencore announced a new liquefied natural gas supply agreement; and, lastly, G7 trade ministers issued a joint communiqué covering market and trade distortions by state enterprises. Each month, MetalMiner hosts a webinar on a specific metals topic. Explore […]
China’s iron ore demand poses problem for some Indian steelmakers
China’s increased appetite for iron ore has become a problem for neighbor India. In the first four months of 2021, ore exports from India increased by 66% to 22.42 million tons (MT). As much as 90% of this went to China, according to Business Today. Each month, MetalMiner hosts a webinar on a specific metals […]
Iron ore market characterized by volatility
The iron ore price has been about as volatile of late as most of us can remember. The price powered relentlessly upwards this year on the back of surging demand from China and constrained supply from Brazil. Then, after hitting a peak May 10 and 12, it fell sharply into bear territory, as Beijing sought […]
Second-largest copper producer Peru on the cusp of disaster
You have to feel for poor Peru, the second-largest copper producer in the world. The country is facing the double affliction of the worst COVID-related death rate per head of population anywhere in the world. At the same time, it is enduring a presidential election between two almost equally obnoxious candidates. The MetalMiner Best Practice […]
This Morning in Metals: US personal consumption expenditure rises in April
This morning in metals news: US personal consumption expenditure rose in April; meanwhile, Norsk Hydro is teaming up on an offshore wind project in the Norwegian North Sea; and, lastly, the United Steelworkers asked the Biden administration for clarification on its domestic mining stance. More MetalMiner is available on LinkedIn. US personal consumption expenditures rises […]
Carbon emissions: The key to corporate strategy
Activist investors and environmentalists make strange bedfellows, but both are like the hordes at the citadel gates of the oil majors. In the US, activist investor Engine No. 1 forced at least two and possibly three directors onto the board of Exxon Mobil. In doing so, it aims to force a change in direction for […]