The global copper market has had quite the year. On September 8, approximately 800,000 tons of wet material flooded multiple levels of the Grasberg Block Cave mine in Papua, Indonesia, leading to the suspension of all underground operations. It was just one more event to add to the list of copper mining and supply disruptions […]
Category: Commodities
World Takes First Steps in Breaking China’s Stranglehold on Rare Earth Magnets Supply
Resource security when it comes to rare earth magnets is something the modern-day world has been desperately trying to get right. This is primarily due to rare earths’ increasing importance in electronics, defense, vehicles, and much more. For years, countries have been seeking ways to secure access to these vital resources. However, 90% of the […]
Iron Ore Prices Rebound Amid Surge in China’s Steel Export Outlook
Iron ore prices rose this week, despite the overall weakness in the steel industry. Analysts are puzzled by this contradiction, particularly as China’s steel production and local consumption are still not recovering at the rate they should be. According to sector experts, the recent surge hints at a gap between actual raw material demand and […]
Copper Titans Unite: Anglo and Codelco Crack World’s Top 5
The copper market recently experienced a significant development that could have big implications for global supply. Metals and mining multinational Anglo American has finalized an agreement with National Copper Corporation of Chile (Codelco) to merge operations at their respective Los Bronces and Andina copper mines, putting them among the top 5 largest sites in the […]
Global Precious Metals MMI: The Fed Cuts Rates by .25%. How are Precious Metals Prices Reacting?
The Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, trending up by a slight 1.14%. Despite the sideways movement, precious metals prices have been anything but stale. The past two weeks have been dramatic for the precious metals market, as gold set new records, silver touched levels not seen since 2011 and palladium and […]
Steelmakers in Europe See Jump in Hot Rolled Coil Prices as People Return from Summer Holidays
Steelmakers in Europe are seeing a large jump in hot rolled coil prices as people start to return to work from their summer holidays, which could have significant implications for the steel industry. “Stocks are low,” one source said about inventories for the flat rolled product held by both stockists and end-users. Mills are currently […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Hit 6-Month High
The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways with an upside bias, rising 0.56% from August to September. Meanwhile, the global price of aluminum reached highs not seen since the beginning of the year. Track other MetalMiner monthly indexes here, and compare how the overall industrial metal market is performing. Worried about the fluctuating price […]
Iron Ore Futures Slide as China’s Economic Slowdown Deepens
Global iron ore markets are under renewed pressure as futures prices continue to fall, driven by mounting concerns over China’s faltering economy and weakening demand from its steel and property sectors. Meanwhile, current iron ore prices continue to fluctuate. According to reports, iron ore futures fell to their lowest levels in a week on Monday, […]
Copper MMI: Comex Prices Hold Premium After Critical Minerals Recommendation
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways, with a 1.87% decline from July to August. Meanwhile, the price of copper saw some notable upticks from August to September, as well as some significant drops. Keep up with why and when the price of copper shifts in 2025. Get the latest updates with MetalMiner’s free […]
Automotive MMI: U.S. Automakers Grapple with Metal Supply Complications
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, dropping a slight 2.3%. This comes as the US automotive market, manufacturers in particular, are facing a one-two punch of rising costs and potential shortages in their metal supply chains. A big reason for this is steep tariffs on steel, aluminum and other inputs, which are driving […]