Today’s global rare earths supply chain is lopsided, with only a few nations, helmed by China, firmly in control of production and processing. Now, rapidly unfolding developments involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia could introduce a new dimension to this otherwise highly imbalanced supply chain. Subscribe to MetalMiner’s weekly newsletter and conquer metal market […]
Sohrab Darabshaw
Are Trump’s Tariffs Causing a Global Metal Market Earthquake?
The so-called “Trump Tariffs” have shaken things up for metal traders worldwide. At least three countries in the Asia Pacific region will see significant impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff imposition on steel and aluminum. In addition to increasing the rate to 25% from the previous 10%, President Trump also removed exemptions and […]
China Puts the Brakes on Copper Smelters. Will It Ease the Industry’s Supply Strain?
Throughout 2024, China worked to control its rapidly growing copper smelters, which were lowering profit margins amid a bustling copper market. In response, China has released new, more stringent regulations for the construction of new copper smelters. The move aims to keep excess capacity in check. However, it’s a slowdown rather than a complete halt […]
Iron Ore Prices Poised for an Early Comeback in 2025?
Predictions for iron ore prices in 2025 remain mostly mixed, but early signs in the new year indicate an upward trend, at least in Asian markets. According to a report by Reuters, one positive indication was a northward trend of iron ore futures prices on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) last Monday. The DCE’s most-traded […]
Trade War Starts Between World’s Two Leading Economies
The so-called “Trump Tariffs” imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump caused uncertainty in the global metals market earlier in the week. Though he did pause imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada for one month, there could still me plenty more chaos down the road. The current tariffs include a 25% levy on goods […]
China’s Steel Sector Faces Uncertain Future Amid Economic Challenges
The output of the world’s largest steel industry, China, fell 1.7% last year, a fact that continues to raise many questions about its future direction. This drop continued the downward trend from the 2020 peak of 1.065 billion tons, bringing the 2024 output down to 1.005 billion metric tons. However, even as China’s own steel […]
Greenland Is Not for Sale—but Could It Become America’s Strategic Partner?
According to media reports, President-elect Trump’s allies in The House of Representatives have proposed a bill dubbed “‘Make Greenland Great Again.” The proposed bill aims to hurry up the negotiation process with Denmark (Greenland is abundant with rare earths), following Trump’s repeated remarks about “buying” the island. If passed, it will pave the way for […]
Aluminum Divide: Experts Clash Over EU’s Proposed Sanctions on Russian Metal
For now, the aluminum sector seems divided on the impact that a proposed new ban on Russian aluminum exports by the European Commission may have on the global supply chain. It is an important question, especially as aluminum prices remain locked in a sideways trend. However, price did experience a slight upsurge at the news. […]
Trump’s Push for Greenland Sparks Arctic Power Struggle
Soon-to-be-sworn-in U.S. President Donald Trump has not been shy about his interest in “purchasing” Greenland, and it is possible rare earths are a big reason why. However, Trump is not the first President to consider adopting the northern landmass, which is currently an autonomous region under the Kingdom of Denmark. It remains to be seen […]
Iron Ore’s Rocky Road: Weak Steel Demand and Ample Supply Pressure Prices
All available indicators at the start of 2025 show that iron ore prices will likely remain subdued in the new year. According to the latest data, the supply side will remain strong. However, steel demand does not look very good – at least for now. BMI, a research agency under Fitch Solutions, was quoted in […]
