Prices for hot rolled coil in Western Europe have risen further in the past month as mills seek to regain lost revenue from the declines of 2024. As the steel industry looks to 2025, this could have significant implications for prices and partnerships. “People are buying before year’s end. I’ve got several bids,” one market […]
Category: Commodities
Aluminum MMI: End of China Rebates, Alumina Supply Support Aluminum Prices
The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) edged lower, with a 1.23% decline from November to December. Aluminum Prices: A Year in Review 2024 began on a low note for the aluminum market, as Q4 2023 witnessed a year-over-year drop in shipments as well as average selling prices for certain domestic suppliers. In its financial results, […]
Nickel Nightmare: Is Indonesia’s Dominance Hurting Global Markets?
When the story of global nickel prices is written for 2024, Indonesia and China will undoubtedly be the main characters. This is not only due to the former country’s high production output but also alleged violations of environmental rules and poor labor practices, which Indonesia has consistently denied. Indonesia is numero uno in global nickel […]
ArcelorMittal Hunedoara Halts Steel Production Amid Economic Downturn
Difficult market conditions have prompted Romanian steel industry leader ArcelorMittal Hunedoara to reduce production until year’s end. According to a notice provided to the Bucharest Stock Exchange, the longs producer’s board of directors decided to reduce production from December 9-31 and pay 75% of salaries to employees impacted by the steps. The December 6 notice also […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: Prices Lose Steam After a Volatile 2024
The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped month-over-month by 7.66%. Precious metals prices showed mixed trends over the past month, shaped by central bank decisions, geopolitical uncertainties and shifts in market demand. While gold and silver continued to rise, platinum and palladium encountered declining momentum. Precious Metals Prices: Palladium Palladium prices have faced […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Wrap Up 2024 Sideways, Up 7.66% from 2023
Overall, the Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained bearish, with a 4.65% decline from November to December. Copper Prices to Close 2024 Up, But the Outlook is Down Often a bellwether for the global economy, the price of copper became a bellwether for market emotionality throughout 2024. Despite lackluster demand conditions, copper prices embarked on […]
MetalMiner and N-Alpha Partner to Launch MetalMiner Insights SV
MetalMiner, the leader in metal commodities data and forecasting, has announced a strategic partnership with N-Alpha to launch MetalMiner Insights SV. This purpose-built spend analytics solution provides commodity visibility and forecasting at the part level across the energy/utilities, automotive/EV, aerospace and defense (A&D) and industrial manufacturing sectors. MetalMiner Insights SV, available to all MetalMiner customers […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Bearish as Nickel Prices Sit Below 2023 Close
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) steadied, with a modest 0.3% increase from November to December. Stainless, Nickel Prices to Depart 2024 on a Low Note Stainless distributors had nothing good to say about 2024 on the heels of the new year. To many, 2024 was mostly characterized by soft demand conditions and an […]
Construction MMI: China’s Export Tax Rebate Reverberates on U.S. Construction Market
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held its sideways trend, dropping by a slight 1.09%. Despite a torrent of construction news, the index didn’t budge much month-over-month and had a minimal reaction to recent interest rate drops. The Fed will likely need to drop interest rates more aggressively for the construction index to display any […]
Déjà Vu for China: Copper Scrap Shortages Push Copper to New Heights
It’s déjà vu for China’s copper smelters. But how will it affect the global price of copper? The shortfall China faced in mid-2024 following the limited availability of copper ore in June led the country to significantly increase its imports of copper scrap as an alternative raw material. In fact, in the first five months […]