The Construction Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose by 3.3% for this month’s reading, as construction spending picked up in November. U.S. construction spending reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,625.9 billion in November, or up 0.4% from October, the Census Bureau reported. Furthermore, the November rate marked a 9.3% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, through the […]
Category: Metal Prices
This Morning in Metals: Copper prices pick up
This morning in metals news: LME copper prices have ticked up; the U.S. monthly trade deficit increased from October to November; and, lastly, WTI crude prices made some gains this week. You want more MetalMiner on your terms. Sign up for weekly email updates here. Copper prices rise Copper prices had trended firmly in between […]
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel prices continue to cool
This morning in metals news: U.S. steel prices have continued to decline; OPEC will continue its output increase schedule in February 2022; and, lastly, Alcoa at the end of last year announced plans to curtail production at its San Ciprián aluminum smelter in Spain. Does your company have a steel buying strategy based on current […]
This Morning in Metals: MetalMiner looks ahead in January 2022 MMO report
This morning in metals news: MetalMiner’s January 2022 Monthly Metal Outlook (MMO) report is now available; steel capacity utilization for the week ending Jan. 1, 2022, fell to 80.6%; and, lastly, U.S. job openings declined in November. Request a 30-minute demo of the MetalMiner Insights platform now. January 2022 MMO report MetalMiner has kicked off […]
This Morning in Metals: Energy costs surge; steel imports rise; aluminum price picks up
This morning in metals news: energy costs surged in 2021; U.S. steel imports picked up in November; and, lastly, aluminum prices rose during the second half of December. All the metals intelligence you need in one user-friendly platform with unlimited usage. Request a MetalMiner Insights platform demo. Energy costs rise in 2021 Energy costs surged […]
Europe’s aluminum smelters in turmoil amid rising power costs
As our colleague Fouad Egbaria noted this week, rising power costs in Europe, almost wholly down to the cost of natural gas, resulted in reduced output at Europe’s largest aluminum smelter, Aluminium Dunkerque Industries France. Losses there ballooned to €20 million ($22 million) during November, as natural gas prices quadrupled this year. Most aluminum smelters […]
This Morning in Metals: Copper prices move sideways; construction employment rises; Northvolt assembles first lithium-ion battery cell at Swedish gigafactory
This morning in metals news: copper prices have moved sideways to close 2021; meanwhile, the U.S. construction sector added jobs in November; and, finally, Northvolt said it had produced the first lithium-ion battery cell at its gigafactory in Sweden. MetalMiner should-cost models: Give your organization levers to pull for more price transparency, from service centers, […]
This Morning in Metals: Nickel prices consolidate; NAS reduces fuel surcharge; US LNG exports surged in H1 2021
This morning in metals news: nickel prices have consolidated in December; North American Stainless announced a reduction in its fuel surcharge; and, lastly, the Energy Information Administration reported U.S. liquefied natural gas exports reached a record high in the first half of 2021. Are you under pressure to generate stainless steel cost savings? Make sure […]
This Morning in Metals: Aluminum prices rally; Rio Tinto to acquire lithium project; Biden signs proclamation adjusting steel imports
This morning in metals news: aluminum prices have rallied to close the year; Rio Tinto is acquiring a lithium mining project; and, lastly, the American Iron and Steel Institute commented on the president’s proclamation this week adjusting steel imports. See why technical analysis is a superior forecasting methodology over fundamental analysis and why it matters […]
This Morning in Metals: Steel prices cool to close 2021
This morning in metals news: steel prices continue to cool heading toward the year’s end, MetalMiner Insights data indicate; meanwhile, global crude steel production continued to decline in November; and, finally, the U.S. exported more petroleum and crude oil products than it imported in the first half of 2021. Cut-to-length adders. Width and gauge adders. […]