After global crude steel production rose for four consecutive years, output declined last year, the World Steel Association reported Tuesday. Global crude steel production drops 0.9% in 2020 Global crude steel production fell by 0.9% in 2020 compared with 2019, the World Steel Association reported. Production had increased every year from 2015-2019. Output last year […]
Category: Metal Prices
Copper output down, long-term price rally takes January breather
The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) reported the global copper market posted an apparent deficit of 480,000 metric tons through the first 10 months of 2020. Global copper market in deficit, output down In addition to the global copper market deficit, the ICSG reported global copper mine production fell by 0.5% during the aforementioned period. […]
This Morning in Metals: Cleveland-Cliffs releases Q4 2020 results
This morning in metals news: Cleveland-Cliffs released its preliminary Q4 2020 results; demand for sustainable aluminum is rising in the maritime industry; and U.S. steel prices continue to rise. Cleveland-Cliffs revenue jumps Cleveland-Cliffs reported Q4 2020 revenues of approximately $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion. The total marked a 320% year-over-year jump. Meanwhile, the firm reported […]
Week in Review: LME steel contracts; Thyssenkrupp’s spinoff effort; ‘green’ aluminum
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was in metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including Stuart Burns on LME steel contracts, the green revolution in aluminum and much more. Regarding the LME steel contracts, Burns noted, “For over 200 years, the London Metal Exchange (LME) has provided […]
This Morning in Metals: Aluminum Association lays out priorities for Biden administration
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 […]
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 […]