The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, rising by a modest 1.45% from May to June. Though copper prices today appear mostly stable, significant opportunity for volatility remains. Copper Prices Open June With Uncertainty Comex copper prices appeared surprisingly stable in the first weeks of June as they took a pause from the heightened […]
Category: Inventory Stock Levels
Stainless MMI: Tariff Impacts on the Stainless Market
The Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, rising by a modest 0.35% from May to June. However, the stainless steel price remains under pressure from several factors. Tariff Hike Rattles the U.S. Stainless Steel Market In a move few saw coming, President Trump doubled Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% […]
Rare Earths MMI: Prices Stabilize, but Supply Chains Still Disrupted by China’s New RE Restrictions
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) found more price stability month-over-month. As a result, it moved sideways, with only a 0.81% increase. Despite this, the short-term outlook for rare earths remains uncertain. Chinese export restrictions jolted prices in H1 of 2025 and fractured long-running supply lines. Shortly after, global automakers warned that Beijing’s April […]
Copper Market Outlook, H2 2025: Why Are Inventories Still So Uneven?
The copper market outlook for the second half of 2025 has seen significant debate in recent weeks. On the supply side of the equation, new production is coming online. However, this may not happen fast enough to flood the market. According to mining.com, the ICSG projects global mined copper output will rise about 2.3% in […]
Price of Copper Braces for H2 2025: Are Demand Jitters on the Way?
Copper prices are entering the second half of 2025 on a knife’s edge. After a roller-coaster first half that included soaring to record highs in March only to plunge weeks later, the outlook for the price of copper remains clouded by dueling forces. On the one hand, robust long-term demand drivers like electrification and EVs […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Volatile on Tariff Shifts
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) retraced to the downside with a 4.23% decline from March to April. Looking at copper prices today, analysts seem to be struggling with ongoing trade policy shifts. Copper Prices Zigzag Amid Uncertain Trade Policy Comex copper prices have experienced wild swings over the past few months. First, they […]
Stainless MMI: Stainless Prices Stable Despite Q1 Market Improvements
Declining nickel prices saw the Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) drop from April to May. Overall, the index fell 3.34%. Suppliers Report Better Q1 Performance Domestic stainless suppliers reported improved market conditions in the first quarter. Both mills and service centers saw shipments increase as the barrage of tariff announcements spooked at least a few […]
Iron Ore Defies the Odds: Prices Surge After Tariff Rollbacks
The past week or so has seen quite a yo-yo ride for global iron ore prices. Ore futures, including the most-active September contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), dropped by about 2% on May 8. The reasons for this were twofold: the likely consequences of the U.S.-China trade tariff war, and a demand slowdown […]
Automotive MMI: Volatile Steel and Copper Prices Shake U.S. Auto Industry
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways this past month, dropping a slight 1.74%. The US automotive industry faces a bumpy ride as key metal prices continue to swing wildly. In recent weeks, critical inputs like hot-dipped galvanized steel, copper and lead have seen rapid price shifts amid new tariffs and supply chain jitters, […]
Raw Steels MMI: How Far Will Steel Prices Fall?
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) traded down during the month. Overall, the index fell 3.82% from April to May. While U.S. steel prices moved sideways throughout April, the bias appeared increasingly to the downside as buyers pulled away from the market due to tariffs. Steel Prices Slide Lower As Bearish Signals Mount After […]
