It has the largest reserves of cobalt in the world and the 7th largest deposit of copper, making it the cynosure of the mining world. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plays a central role in the world’s rollover to renewable energy and in cobalt price movements. As a result, the central African nation surfaces in […]
Category: Commodities
Investors Seek Safe Haven Assets Amidst Geopolitical Conflict
Precious metals like gold and silver are often seen as a safe haven asset during times of economic uncertainty. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of global conflicts, imposing high uncertainty and risk among markets for investors. Still, the jury is still out on how this will affect precious […]
India’s Steel Industry Braces Itself: Coking Coal Crisis Sparks Controversial Price Hikes
India has almost replaced China as the most important coking coal export destination for the near future. This comes after a significant increase in steel demand in the subcontinent. The expected resurgence in China’s economy, mainly due to the government’s efforts to kick-start sectors like construction, has not materialized. In response, sector experts are beginning to […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: Index Goes Up, Lithium-Ion Battery Dilemmas
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) saw a welcome boost month-on-month, rising 6.27%. Grain-oriented electrical steel, silicon, and neodymium were the main factors that increased the index, while the lithium-ion battery market remains a point of contention. In the case of silicon, futures initially rose back in June due to production cuts within China, the […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Mills Scramble for Orders as Nickel Prices Hit 2-year Low
Nickel prices remained decidedly bearish throughout October, experiencing the largest monthly decline amongst base metals. Indeed, prices fell over 7% to their lowest level since October 2021. Overall, the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) continued to decline, dropping 5.74% from September to October. Crush the competition by getting access to weekly exclusive nickel market intel. Opt into MetalMiner’s free […]
Construction MMI: Steel Prices Drop & Construction Impact on Steel Demand
Month-over-month, the Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) narrowly missed trading completely flat, ultimately moving sideways with just a 0.2% increase. Meanwhile, steel prices, specifically h-beam steel and steel rebar costs, either dropped or traded sideways, as did bar fuel surcharges. Energy have risen at an astounding rate since 2021 due to high inflation and geopolitical […]
Raw Steels MMI: Will Cliffs’ Price Hike Shift Steel Prices?
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose 3.45% from August to September. Flat rolled steel prices remained bearish throughout September. Meanwhile, hot rolled coil prices continued to show the largest decline, falling to their lowest levels since December 2022. By the end of September, prices sat only 4% above their last major low. Meanwhile, […]
Groundwater Pumping at South Crofty Cornish Mining to Begin in October
For years, the tin price index in Europe depended largely on foreign supply. However, Vancouver-headquartered Cornish Mining plans to start pumping out groundwater from its South Crofty tin project as early as October. The firm is currently preparing its mine water treatment plant, which can treat up to 25,000 cubic meters of water per day […]
Rare Earths MMI: Burmese Mining Suspension Causes Prices for Rare Earth to Shoot Up
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) witnessed yet another steep increase month-over-month. Indeed, supply disruptions remain a massive concern in the rare earths industry, so rare earth magnets and other materials witnessed renewed bullish strength across the board over recent months. In August, market worries arose prior to a planned environmental inspection of China’s […]
Copper Price Roller Coaster a Wild Ride in 2023: From Highs to Lows and Back Again
It’s safe to say that the copper price index witnessed an interesting 2023 thus far. Indeed, the market’s been volatile, so there were more than the usual ups and downs. Mid-year, prices registered a major tumble because of the fumble in China’s economy. However, soon after, they began clawing back to a respectable level. Prices […]