Ramped-up offshore exploration for rare earth metals and minerals, vital components in sought-after products like hybrid vehicles and smartphone screens, continues to cut into China’s long-held position as the primary global supplier. Countries like Australia, the United States, Myanmar, and even nations like Malaysia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan continue to increase their extraction efforts. This […]
Sohrab Darabshaw
Copper Hits Record $10,000 Milestone: Experts Warn of Impending Supply Crisis
It took about 24 months for the price of copper to reach the psychological mark of U.S. $10,000 per metric ton. Three-month copper futures on the London Metal Exchange (LME) touched the $10k mark last week. The last time copper crossed this threshold was in March 2022, when it reached $10,845 per ton in the […]
India’s Battle for Steel Self-Reliance Intensifies Amid Import Surge
India has ended the financial year 2023-2024 as a net importer of finished steel, which has sent the alarm bells ringing in industry circles throughout India. Mainly, insiders want to know how the changing import status might affect steel costs and India’s push for self reliance. According to news agency Reuters, as per initial government […]
A Blow to China’s Steel Dumping Tactics: Triple Tariffs
New China tariffs may soon change the country’s steel market tactics. China continues to sit on a stockpile of steel, and it has no idea what to do with most of it. The exception, however, seems to be dumping it into foreign markets for cheap under the guise of “exportation.” China remains unable to use […]
LME’s Russian Metal Ban Shifts Global Metal Trade Dynamics
China will undoubtedly become an even more significant buyer of Russian metals following the London Metal Exchange’s ban on newly produced Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel. China has already evolved into a major market for Russian-made products following dwindling demand in the West, and these new Russian sanctions will likely only further cement that position. […]
Iron Ore Price Drops to 10-Month Low Before Recovering
The fear expressed by institutional analysts at the start of the year that 2024 will see some degree of volatility on the iron ore price front seems to be coming true. On April 1, the beginning of the second fiscal quarter, iron ore prices fell to a ten-month low. Costs for the raw steel-making material […]
Australia’s Biggest Challenges Lie Ahead for Iron Ore Production
Australia’s iron ore industry faces a major challenge, and if the country does not take corrective course action soon, it risks losing its position as the largest exporter of iron ore. This would have a significant impact on the nation’s industry, and its ability to affect the iron ore price. The challenge is the “changing […]
Experts Predict Nickel Prices Will Continue to Drop in 2024
Will there be a rebound in Chinese nickel purchases in 2024? Furthermore, will it serve to bolster the market in the near term? Following a lengthy period of de-stocking last year, these are just some of the questions with implications for the global nickel price. As the world moves toward cleaner energy sources, certain minerals […]
Subdued Market Reaction So Far to China’s Targeted 2024 Growth Rate
Investors, traders, and the metals community continue to anticipate fresh stimulus measures from China’s top leaders, which could potentially kickstart economic growth, increase metals consumption, and affect metal prices. However, they remain rather disappointed with Beijing’s target 5% growth for 2024. Moreover, demand has remained subdued since the Lunar New Year holiday. Almost everyone was […]
JSW Steel Aiding Italy’s Steel Industry with €140 Million Investment
One of India’s fastest-growing steel companies JSW Steel, recently announced the next step in its growth plan. In a major steel news event, JSW Steel Italy SRL inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Italian government to re-start production operations at the Piombino plant via a €140 million investment. According to JSW Steel, the […]