The cobalt mining industry, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has received backlash in both the past and present for human rights concerns. In the DRC, children as young as seven are sometimes employed to work in hazardous conditions to collect cobalt, a crucial material for electric car batteries, smartphones and other modern […]
The MetalMiner Team
Lithium Market: Continued Growth, or Red Herring?
Lithium has rapidly become a critical element in the race to dominate the tech and energy sectors, resulting in a powerful and profitable global lithium market. This is mainly because the element plays an indispensable role in lithium-ion batteries, which don’t just “charge” our smartphones and laptops but also power electric vehicles. As the global […]
Rare Earths MMI: China’s Metal Demand Weakens: What It Means for U.S. Rare Earth Buyers
The bears continued to make their way into the Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index), with yet another drop in price action, this time by 6.93%. Many factors pulled at rare earths prices overall, including oversupply, weak demand for metals within China and shifting dynamics in global rare earths supplies. It seems China’s over-production of […]
Unlocking Efficiency: The Art of Metal Price Forecasting
Metal price forecasting is essential for businesses that buy metal, particularly when dealing with commodities like copper, steel, and aluminum. By precisely projecting future metals prices, companies may make educated judgments regarding their purchasing strategy and ensure that they acquire the metals at the most advantageous periods. Companies that understand the importance of metal price […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Precious Metals Prices to Experience More Volatility
The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held its four-month long sideways trend month-over-month. All in all, the index narrowly missed trading flat, only budging down 0.18%. However, numerous factors continue to pull at precious metals prices in general. Gold, for one, appeared to finally be settling down after reaching record highs earlier in […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Long-Term Precious Metal Price Direction Remains Uncertain
The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) showed slight upward price action month-over-month, rising by 2.57%. Despite this, the overall trend of the index held sideways. In terms of specific precious metal prices, platinum and silver experienced upward price action through May before retreating back into range at the beginning of June. This served […]
Preparing for Annual Contract Negotiations: A Guide for Metal Sourcing Companies
Metal sourcing firms must have a thorough awareness of market trends and metal prices to prepare for the approaching yearly contract negotiations in the fall. This involves identifying any swings in metals prices through in-depth investigation and analysis while also comprehending the variables behind these swings. Each week, MetalMiner’s newsletter covers these exact patterns. Sourcing […]
Norsk Hydro Comments on Current Aluminum Market Conditions
Recently, MetalMiner had the pleasure of speaking with Norsk Hydro about aluminum market trends, market insights and the general market outlook for the aluminum industry, especially in the U.S. As the premier green aluminum producer in the United States, Europe-based Norsk Hydro continues to make significant strides in helping to convert the aluminum extrusion market […]
Renewables MMI: Problematic Dependence on China for Silicon and Solar Panels?
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continued its slight downward trend month-on-month, dropping by 3.8%. Two large components of the index, silicon and cobalt prices, continue to experience drops due to lingering renewable energy supply bottlenecks from 2023. This, along with falling grain-oriented electrical steel prices, brought the index down Silicon for Solar Panels: A […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Upward Price Action for Gold Finally Loses Steam
The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) slowed its upward price action and moved sideways from April to May. All in all, the index only rose by 2.38%. Among precious metal prices, gold remains at historically high levels, while silver and palladium prices trended more sideways month-over-month. Precious Metal Prices: Gold Gold prices rallied […]
