The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) continued to move sideways, with a modest 1.11% rise from January to February. In the face ongoing tariff threats, LME aluminum prices remained consolidated while the Midwest Premium surged. Tariffs Add Chaos to the Aluminum Market Since President Trump’s term started, the aluminum market has been squarely in the […]
Category: Global Trade
Trump’s Tariffs: EU Warns of ‘Firm and Proportionate’ Counterstrike
European bodies recently criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to introduce tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the country. Meanwhile, experts at home and abroad continue to evaluate how the trade dispute will affect steel prices and aluminum prices. The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, recently vowed that it would respond […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Market Remains Slow Despite Tariffs
The Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways, but continued to slide. Overall, the index fell by 0.72% from January to February as nickel prices remained consolidated. Bearish Conditions Continue to Haunt 304 Stainless The chaos of tariffs was seemingly lost on large portions of the stainless steel market. For many, the return of a […]
Iron Ore Prices Poised for an Early Comeback in 2025?
Predictions for iron ore prices in 2025 remain mostly mixed, but early signs in the new year indicate an upward trend, at least in Asian markets. According to a report by Reuters, one positive indication was a northward trend of iron ore futures prices on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) last Monday. The DCE’s most-traded […]
Construction MMI: Tariff Talk: What Should the Construction Industry Expect?
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held its sideways trend, budging down a slight 1.35%. Meanwhile, the U.S. construction industry faces a complex landscape shaped by recent policy changes, Trump tariffs and other economic factors. Tariffs and Their Effect on Construction Materials Steel remains a fundamental component of modern construction, playing a crucial role in […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Up as Comex Premium Advances
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) held sideways, although the upside bias appeared to accelerate. In total, the index rose 1.64% from January to February, supported by rising U.S. copper prices. Keep up with the latest tariff news impacting copper prices. Subscribe to MetalMiner’s free weekly newsletter. Copper Prices Bullish as Exchange Delta Grows Traders […]
Trade War Starts Between World’s Two Leading Economies
The so-called “Trump Tariffs” imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump caused uncertainty in the global metals market earlier in the week. Though he did pause imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada for one month, there could still me plenty more chaos down the road. The current tariffs include a 25% levy on goods […]
Automotive MMI: Market Witnesses Volatility with Tariff Concerns
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held sideways for the third month in a row, moving up a mere 0.62%. In January, the U.S. automotive industry faced significant developments affecting metals prices and manufacturing processes. Key factors included proposed tariffs, strategic investments in steel production and notable market reactions among automotive stocks. Tariff Panic and […]
Rare Earths MMI: 10% Chinese Tariff – How Much Will it Impact Rare Earths?
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held sideways from January to February, moving up a slight 2.88%. Rare earths prices have proven more volatile in the past year than other metal products like steel. Now, it seems the rare earth market could witness more volatility in 2025. President Trump recently imposed a 10% tariff […]
After Global Steel Production Dipped in 2024, What’s Next for the Industry?
According to the World Steel Association, global crude steel production in 2024 declined by about 1% year-on-year. With the data released, organizations now want to determine where steel prices might go for the rest of 2025. On January 24, the Brussels-based association stated that total volumes for the year were just over 1.88 billion metric […]
