South Africa, the primary or major source of so many critical metals, is caught in a Catch-22 situation of its own making. Request a 30-minute demo of the MetalMiner Insights platform now. The mining industry is a major employer in South Africa and contributes some 7% of national GDP. The impact of mining goes beyond […]
Category: Commodities
Do falling commodity prices mean we are in bear territory?
Iron ore, coking coal, oil and the base metals have all taken a hit over recent weeks. Generate hard savings on your metal buys year-round; trial MetalMiner’s monthly outlook report In some part that’s due to a stronger dollar. To a larger degree, however, it’s due to fear that the steps being taken to contain […]
Week in Review: Aluminum prices; Trump signs USMCA; Brexit hour is near
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 coverage of: aluminum production and prices; Trump’s tariffs on aluminum and steel derivatives; the coronavirus’ potential impact on iron ore; General Motors’ electrification drive; and the arrival of Brexit. […]
Coronavirus likely to impact steel, iron ore demand in 2020
Another victim of China’s coronavirus epidemic could well be the iron ore price. Iron ore had a stellar 2019, reaching a five-year high of $125 per ton in July on the back of Vale SA’s Brumadinho mining dam disaster and Cyclone Veronica, which struck Western Australia in March. Looking for metal price forecasting and data […]
This Morning in Metals: Tensions rise as Trump threatens E.U. with auto tariffs
This morning in metals news, U.S.-E.U. trade tensions are again at the forefront with President Donald Trump’s recent threats at the World Economic Forum in Davos, a Chinese firm has purchased British steel trader Stemcor and Brazil’s Vale is off to a slow start this year. Looking for metal price forecasting and data analysis in […]
Census Bureau, HUD: December housing starts up 16.9%, highest since 2007
December proved to be a fruitful month for U.S. housing starts, which reached their highest level since 2007. The new data came the same day the Federal Reserve reported manufacturing production had ticked up slightly in December. Looking for metal price forecasting and data analysis in one easy-to-use platform? Inquire about MetalMiner Insights today! Housing […]
Indian mining sector breathes sigh of relief after government amends mining law
Steel companies and mining companies in India have heaved a sigh of relief after the federal government amended the prevailing mining law to permit the “seamless transfer” of regulatory approvals to new owners of operational iron ore mines, the Economic Times reported. Looking for metal price forecasting and data analysis in one easy-to-use platform? Inquire […]
January MMI Report: Steel prices rise, copper gains capped by demand concerns
The January 2020 Monthly Metals Index (MMI) report is in the books, including coverage of rising steel prices, U.S. automotive sales, construction spending and much more. This month, all 10 of the MMIs increased. The GOES, Rare Earths and Global Precious MMIs were the biggest risers, surging by 19.1%, 5.3% and 4.5%, respectively. Keep up to […]
Don’t count on a commodities bear market forever
The inverse relationship between the strength of the U.S. dollar and the price of commodities has held good over time. That relationship isn’t a constant, of course. Political, economic or supply-demand fundamentals can trump dollar strength at times of stress. However, as a broad measure, it can impact prices day to day, week to week […]
Week in Review: U.S. auto sales, aluminum prices and U.S.-Iran tensions
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and some of the metals coverage here on MetalMiner, including: a natural gas transit deal between Russia and Ukraine; aluminum prices; the impact of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions on oil prices; and the copper demand picture. Looking for metal price […]