The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by 15.14% month over month, as U.S. steel prices picked up this past month. Steel prices rise U.S. steel prices rose in March. Plate prices skipped the price descent and climbed to new all-time highs. Meanwhile, HRC, CRC and HDG hit a bottom in early March and […]
Category: Metal Prices
Let’s Not Forget China
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent shock waves throughout global metals markets. However, it’s important to remember that the most consistent longer-term driver of metal prices is Chinese demand. That’s why it’s surprising to see how little attention has been paid to the world’s largest consumer and producer of metals in recent months. It’s understandable […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: Biden uses Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of battery materials
The Renewables Monthly Metals Index (MMI) slipped by 2.5% for this month’s reading. (Editor’s note: This report also includes the MMI for grain-oriented electrical steel, or GOES.) Keep up with MetalMiner’s latest analysis of metals markets in the MetalMiner weekly newsletter. Biden looks to Defense Production Act to boost domestic production As we noted in […]
Global Precious MMI: Gold prices retrace after early-March surge
The Global Precious Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell by 1.4% for this month’s index reading, as gold prices retraced after peaking in early March. The MetalMiner Insights platform features a full suite of precious metals prices. Gold, silver prices retrace After peaking in early March, gold prices have retraced. The U.S. gold bullion price jumped to […]
Rare Earths MMI: Iluka rare earths refinery to produce neodymium, dysprosium, other REOs
The Rare Earths Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 11.3% for this month’s reading. Keep an eye out for the full MMI report download later this week. Iluka approves new refinery Australian firm Iluka Resources this week announced it had approved a fully integrated refinery for rare earth oxides. The refinery will be at Eneabba, Western […]
Copper MMI: LME copper prices rise while maintaining a sideways pattern
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose by 3.5% month over month, as copper prices have continued to trade sideways. Copper prices continued to trade within a sideways range. This costs industrial buyers purchasing opportunities due to the overall risk of holding inventory in the event of sudden, volatile price fluctuations. Traders, however, took advantage […]
Russia’s ‘ruble ransom’ — how oil demands might affect aluminum prices, steel prices
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin made some tough talk about forcing “unfriendly countries” to pay for Russian gas in rubles, leading us to wonder how that might impact aluminum prices and steel prices. There are fears that Russia’s economic isolation will begin to affect aluminum prices or steel prices. Those impacts would further burden manufacturers […]
Aluminum MMI: LME aluminum prices retreated from all-time high
The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by 4.0%, as aluminum prices retreated from an all-time high. Aluminum prices remain bullish Aluminum prices showed downside price action and headed toward the previous month’s dips. Such declines do not change the overall outlook toward the upside. Aluminum prices continue to form chart structures that suggest overall […]
Construction MMI: Metal prices bounce back, steel imports fall
The Construction Monthly Metals Index (MMI) picked up by 6.0% for this month’s reading, as rising metal prices push up the cost of doing business in the construction sector. Construction costs rise with metal prices As MetalMiner’s Don Hauser (VP, business solutions) explained during a recent ROTH Capital webinar, steel buyers should keep an eye on […]
Vietnamese automaker VinFast to build EV manufacturing center in North Carolina
As we continue to analyze current market factors and their impacts on nickel prices, copper prices and other key metal prices for automotive production, today we’ll focus on an announced addition to the domestic automotive manufacturing scene. A new automotive player will be coming to the U.S. soon, as Vietnamese automaker VinFast this week announced […]