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 […]
Category: Commodities
Construction MMI: Will Rising Copper Prices Impact Construction Projects?
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) remained firmly in a sideways trend, only budging upward by 1.28%. The rising price of iron ore PB fines in China had the heaviest impact on the index, holding it more up than down. After that, the next biggest factor was European commercial 1050 aluminum sheets. Meanwhile, all other […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Retreat after Failing to Break 2023 High
Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose 7.06% from April to May. The aluminum price remained bullish throughout April, rising 11.47% month over month. However, prices found a peak on April 22 when they failed to break above their 2023 high. They then retraced to the downside during the remainder of the month and […]
Automotive MMI: Will Potential Copper Shortages Impact the Automotive Market?
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) broke out of its nearly 6-month-long sideways trend amid several changes in metals prices. Month-over-month, the index rose 5.24%. Except for shredded scrap steel and palladium, most components of the index either moved up or sideways with slight upward movement. With the recent LME and CME ban on Russian […]
Stainless MMI: Mills Post Q1 Results as Nickel Prices Stabilize
Nickel prices followed other base metals up throughout April, with a nearly 15% month-over-month rise. By late April, prices hit their highest level since September, although they subsequently began to retrace as upside momentum cooled. Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rebounded, with a 9.58% jump from April to May. Outokumpu, Acerinox Post Q1 […]
ThyssenKrupp and EP Corporate Group to Form Joint Steel Venture
ThyssenKrupp recently announced plans to create a 50/50 joint steel manufacturing venture with the Czech Republic’s EP Corporate Group and ThyssenKrupp Steel (TKS). According to the German group, talks are now ongoing between the two parties for the sale of an additional 30% stake in the steelmaker, following an April 26 announcement that EP would initially […]
The Charge Towards a Brighter Future: Innovations in the Battery Market
In a world where the appetite for energy is insatiable, the battery market has become the playground for some of the brightest minds aiming to fuel everything from cell phones to electric vehicles. However, as our gadgets become even smarter, the traditional batteries we’ve relied on seem ever so dim-witted in comparison. Enter the era […]
Raw Steels MMI: Steel Prices Sideways Following Mill Price Reporting
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a modest 1.86% decline from April to May. U.S. flat rolled steel prices found a bottom at the close of March and proceeded to move sideways. HRC prices saw a modest increase, but ultimately closed the month at $838 per short ton. Meanwhile, HRC Midwest […]
Rare Earths MMI: Chinese Rare Earth Profits Continue to Slide
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) saw a massive rebound after four months of sharp declines. All in all, the index rose by a whopping 14.36%. This enormous increase could indicate that prices for rare earth metals finally found a bottom between March and April. Chinese Rare Earth Metals Profits Still Declining China’s mining […]
Anglo American Rejects $38.8 Billion BHP Takeover Offer
Metals markets recently saw UK metal and mining multinational Anglo American reject a £31.1 billion ($38.8 billion) takeover bid from Australia’s BHP. Meanwhile, shareholders in the latter company continue to urge an increase in the offer price. On April 26, London- and Johannesburg-listed Anglo American’s board of directors unanimously rejected BHP’s unsolicited, all-share offer made […]