Chinese geologists recently discovered two new minerals – oboniobite and scandio-fluoro-eckermannite – at Inner Mongolia’s Bayan Obo, the world’s largest rare earths mine. According to media reports, the discovery was a joint effort by the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd., Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths, and […]
Category: Global Trade
Copper Shortage Fears Ignite Once Again as Global Demand Projected to Skyrocket
By now, the world knows that although the current global copper reserves are sufficient to meet demand, extraction continues to lag behind consumption. As a result, many inside and outside the copper market fear there will be a shortage in the coming years. Predictions say that the annual global demand for copper will increase by […]
Flood of Cheap Steel Imports Sets off Alarm Bells for India
It seems all the fears expressed by Indian steelmakers (and policymakers) are coming true. There just seems to be no stopping the flood of cheap steel imports into domestic markets, a problem that continues to cause great agony for Indian steel manufacturing leaders. India became a net importer of steel in the first quarter of […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Sideways Following U.S. Tariffs
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Drop As Investment Funds Pull Back
Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose 4.09% from May to June. Aluminum prices outperformed all other base metals throughout May, with a 5.28% rise. Prices found a peak at their highest level since June 2022 on May 29 before losing all of May’s gains during the first three weeks of June. MetalMiner’s Annual […]