This morning in metals news: the Aluminum Association outlined the issues it hopes the Biden administration will take on; in addition, Alcoa recently reported its Q4 2020 and full-year results; and, finally, the oil price retraced slightly this week. Aluminum Association: aluminum can be part of ‘American comeback’ story The Aluminum Association laid out its […]
Category: Metal Prices
This Morning in Metals: U.S. steel capacity utilization hits 76.7%
This morning in metals news: the U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate hit 76.7% last week; the London Metal Exchange has proposed permanently closing its iconic Ring trading floor; and the copper price has trended flat over the past week. Steel capacity utilization reaches 76.7% The U.S. steel sector’s capacity utilization rate hit 76.7% for […]
What do China’s surging copper imports tell us about the economy for 2021?
China has had a fraction of the deaths and hospitalizations from the COVID-19 pandemic that Western societies have had. Furthermore, China had an economic bounceback that saw its GDP rise 2.3% last year. China’s bounceback The rebound has been impressive. Construction of new high-speed train lines to smaller provincial cities and new motorways connecting remote […]
This Morning in Metals: Rio Tinto iron ore shipments rise 2% in Q4 2020
This morning in metals news: Rio Tinto’s iron ore shipments rose 2% year over year in Q4 2020; the Energy Information Administration forecast 2021 will see less power generation from natural gas this year; after rising during the first week of 2021, the LME three-month aluminum price has since been sliding. Rio Tinto reports rise […]
LME steel contracts build momentum
Steel is the world’s second-largest commodity after crude oil. It is 15 times the size of all other metals markets combined in terms of metric tons. Furthermore, it is worth twice their value. Yet, until recently, it was an industry that saw little use for a futures market. That is primarily because major steel participants […]
Week in Review: January 2021 MMI is out; what’s in store for iron ore?; Oyu Tolgoi expansion faces pushback
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a quick look back at the week that was and the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including the release of the January 2021 MMI, a look at what might happen to the iron ore price and much more. Inauguration Day draws near for President-elect Joe Biden, leaving […]
Stainless MMI: Demand, prices to increase in 2021; ATI exits standard stainless sheet product market
The Stainless Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by 6.0% this month, as ATI issued a major announcement and China ups its stainless imports from Indonesia. ATI exits stainless steel commodity market products Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) announced Dec. 2 that the company would exit the standard stainless sheet product market. The move reduces availability of […]
Raw Steels MMI: Index increases by double digits as steel prices gain to close 2020
The Raw Steels Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased by 16.5% this month, as steel prices showed strength in December. U.S. steel events The American Iron and Steel Institute, the Steel Manufacturers Association, the United Steelworkers union, the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports and the American Institute of Steel Construction sent a letter to Joe […]
Copper MMI: Prices pick up after a slow December
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) increased 3.3% this month, as copper producers have faced challenges that are impacting supply. After a slow December, copper prices continued to increase the first week of January. Prices surpassed the $8,000/mt mark. However, copper prices remain volatile. As the pandemic continues to develop, the U.S. dollar remains around […]
This Morning in Metals: Oyu Tolgoi copper mine expansion faces termination by Mongolian government
This morning in metals news: Turquoise Hill Resources offered an update on the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine expansion project; renewable power generation will continue to rise this year in the U.S.; and the aluminum price has traded sideways over the last month. Are rising MW premiums causing concern? See how service centers take advantage of […]
