One of the world’s leading producers of low-carbon aluminum, UC Rusal, announced a new collaboration with Japanese automotive component manufacturer Kosei, signifying yet another step in its over 30-year journey. Last week, the Russian aluminum giant Rusal said Kosei had selected it to be its global supplier of high-quality aluminum alloys. Does your company have […]
Year: 2021
This Morning in Metals: US industrial production up 0.9% in January
This morning in metals news: US industrial production picked up in January; global aluminum output also rose in January; and, lastly, General Motors reported a milestone in the construction of a new battery cell manufacturing plant in northeast Ohio. US industrial production rises US industrial production rose by 0.9% in January, the Federal Reserve reported. […]
US steel capacity utilization rises to 77.0%, steel prices continue to rise
The US steel sector capacity utilization rate ticked up to 77.0% for the week ending Feb. 20, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported. Steel capacity utilization gains US steel production during the week ending Feb. 20 totaled 1.75 million net tons, AISI reported. The total marked a 7.2% year-over-year decline. Furthermore, the weekly […]
What’s next for the former Trump administration’s aluminum tariff?
Whether the new Biden administration creates a more insightful or sophisticated approach to trade remains to be seen. But, if nothing else, a new administration is a chance for a reset on policies that have not worked as intended under a previous administration. Aluminum tariff policy The previous administration’s Section 232 tariffs on aluminum of […]
This Morning in Metals: Copper price rally continues
This morning in metals news: the copper price rally is going strong; meanwhile, Rio Tinto released its 2020 Annual Report; and, finally, Norilsk Nickel reported a fatal accident at one of its facilities. Copper price rally After a January lull, the copper price rally has resumed in February. The LME three-month copper price closed Friday […]
Copper price rises as the metal’s bull story continues
Copper seems to be a one-way bet the last six months. The copper price has risen from a low of $4,371 per metric ton in March last year to $8,631 per metric ton Friday on the LME. According to Reuters, Goldman Sachs and Citi are doubling down on their bull calls for the copper market. […]
Week in Review: Aluminum industry going greener; rare earths chess game; nickel, stainless dynamics
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and some of the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including the aluminum industry and its efforts to curb emissions, China’s latest foray in the global rare earths chess game and much more: You want more MetalMiner on your terms. […]
This Morning in Metals: Gold price, US dollar retrace while Bitcoin surges
This morning in metals news: the gold price continues to slide; the Federal Reserve released its latest Monetary Policy Report; and the record freeze in Texas is disrupting natural gas production. Gold price weakens After surging to around $2,035 per ounce in August, the gold price for the most part trended in a band between […]
ThyssenKrupp ends talks with Liberty Steel over potential steel unit takeover
ThyssenKrupp has ended discussions with London-based Liberty Steel over the potential sale of the German conglomerate’s steel unit. The parent company made the announcement Wednesday evening, Feb. 17. “We opened the door for negotiations, but in the end our ideas about the corporate value and the structure of the transaction were far apart,” ThyssenKrupp Chief […]
Investment banks signal possible start of a commodities super cycle
Investment banks love a super cycle. It spurs irrational investment and sucks in unwary investors. Furthermore, it encourages passive funds to up their allocation, even if only by fractions of a percent. But with some $14 trillion invested in US equities alone, even a modest increase in passive investments into ETFs would reap significant rewards […]