Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) retraced, with a 4.67% decline from June to July. Aluminum prices continued to decline before finding a bottom in mid-June at their lowest level since mid-April. Overall, this reflected a 6.86% drop from June to July. Prices began to move sideways in mid-June, although the bias remains to […]
Category: Commodities
Construction MMI: Base Metals Stabilize, but Construction Costs Still Elevated
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held true to its year-long sideways trend, only budging down 1.07%. While base metals prices in the construction market remain fairly stable, construction projects overall still continue to battle with elevated rates. This is especially true in the private sector. However, the market continues to push through more than […]
Raw Steels MMI: Steel Prices Bearish as U.S., Mexico Take Action on Chinese Steel
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 4.5% from June to July. Although the pace of declines appeared to slow from the previous month, U.S. flat rolled steel prices remained bearish during June. HRC prices fell nearly 7%, followed by an almost 5% decline in HDG prices and a modest 2% drop in CRC […]
Automotive MMI: Automakers Hit the Brakes on Electric Vehicle Investments
Month over month, the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) failed to break very far outside of its year-long sideways trend. All in all, the index dropped by 4.23% Numerous factors tugged the index down month-over-month, including slowing electric vehicle production. Another pressing matter putting pressure on the automotive market is China implementing further restrictions on […]
Zimbabwe’s $1.5 Billion Steel Plant Roars to Life
Zimbabwe’s got itself a brand new iron and steel manufacturing plant, courtesy of the Chinese. This U.S. $1.5 billion Chinese-built plant’s blast furnace recently came online and is already producing pig iron, a crucial ingredient for making steel. The team over at Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco), the Zimbabwean subsidiary of Chinese steel giant […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Bounce On Market Optimism, Chinese Premium
Overall, the Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 6.66% from June to July. Following a nearly 5% decline throughout June, copper prices found an at least temporary bottom at the end of the month. Prices rose 4.35% during the first week of July as market signals improved. There are numerous factors affecting copper prices today. […]
Rare Earths MMI: What China Further Tightening Rare Earths Means for the U.S.
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) took a steep dive in price action after a month of relative stability, dropping 14.4%. Terbium (both metal and oxide) yanked the index down tremendously, falling more than 16%. However, the rare earths index could yet experience some rebound from now until October, when China’s recent set of […]
Stainless MMI: Bearish Stainless Demand Leads to Steep Discounts
Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) reversed to the downside, with a 10.88% drop from June to July. Nickel prices experienced heavy losses during June, securing the title of worst-performing base metal with an over 14% decline. Prices had fallen over 19% from their May 20 peak by early June as they remained in […]
Liberty Steel Ostrava’s Conundrum: a Plunge into Insolvency
Liberty Steel Ostrava, a steel manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic, recently entered an insolvency process. This comes after its parent company, GFG Alliance, put the plant up for sale and filed for judicial reorganization in mid-June. A source within GFG Alliance told MetalMiner that a regional court in Ostrava, which lies in the eastern […]
Battle for Steel Supremacy: India vs. China in the Global Steel Trade
With a new government in place following the recent general elections, Indian steel manufacturing firms are again clamoring for the imposition of more import duties and other measures to curb cheap steel imports from China. India ended up being a net importer of steel during the April-March 2024 period. According to provisional government data, this […]
