China will undoubtedly become an even more significant buyer of Russian metals following the London Metal Exchange’s ban on newly produced Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel. China has already evolved into a major market for Russian-made products following dwindling demand in the West, and these new Russian sanctions will likely only further cement that position. […]
Category: Non-ferrous Metals
Copper MMI: Sanctions Hit Copper Market, Volatility Ahead
Copper prices continued their breakout during March, rising 4.25%. Prices then formed a second higher high on March 15, followed by a new higher low on March 27. The rally continued throughout April as prices climbed an additional 7.59%. As of April 15, they stand at their highest level since June 2022. Subscribe to MetalMiner’s […]
Aluminum MMI: Prices Inch Toward 2023 High Amid China Supply Cut
Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained sideways, with a 2.03% rise from March to April. Aluminum prices outperformed all base metals throughout March, with a 4.71% rise from the close of February. Prices continued their rally throughout April, hitting their highest level since February 2023 by April 8. Aluminum Prices Chase 2023 Highs […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Rise As China Output Slows
Aluminum prices remain entrenched within a sideways trend. Following a 2.78% month-over-month decline in February, prices retraced throughout the first three weeks of March to where they currently stand: 2.17% above their February close. Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a 2.36% decline from February to March. AI vastly improves your […]
Renewables MMI: Is U.S. Renewable Energy Facing Backlash?
After several months of slight upward momentum, the Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) broke the sideways-to-upward trend, declining by 8.89%. Neodymium dropping in price proved to be the main culprit for the index dropping. Every other component of the index either moved sideways or slightly down. Meanwhile, renewable energy news sources continue to keep their […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Rise to Highest Level Since April Amid Supply Concern
By mid-March, copper prices hit their highest level since April 2023. Prices previously found a bottom in early February before strong upside momentum saw them topple previous peaks within their long-term sideways trend. While prices clocked a moderate1.74% month-over-month decline throughout February, they rose 4.12% during the first two weeks of March. Overall, the Copper […]
European Aluminum Industry Faces Existential Threats
The European aluminum manufacturing industry is under attack from two short- and medium-term threats, both of which have the potential to significantly impact aluminum consumers across the region. Threat #1: Potential Russian Aluminum Ban, Aluminum Manufacturing Shortage The first threat is the widely debated possibility of the EU banning Russian aluminum. While the UK has […]
Automotive MMI: Automotive Market Improves, but Bears Show Up for Steel Prices
Month-over-month, the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped by 3.03%. While the automotive market continued to improve overall, bearish pressure on certain steel prices like hot-dipped galvanized steel, ultimately forced the index down. Experts anticipate this bearish pressure to continue impacting both steel prices and automotive manufacturing in the short term. Despite this, the automotive […]
Rare Earths MMI: Is China Moving Down the Rare Earths Totem Poll?
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) experienced a pretty significant drop month-on-month, falling 24.73%. Save for cerium oxide, all components of the index either fell or moved sideways. Weaker than anticipated downstream demand ended up hitting certain metals related to rare earth magnets particularly hard, causing a plummet in the index. Another significant factor […]
China’s Aluminum Exports to EU Plunge 30% Under Carbon Tariff
Earlier this week, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association reported a 30% decline in the volume of aluminum products exported from China to the European Union. Aluminum manufacturing analysts quickly pointed out that this most likely resulted from the bloc’s 2023 carbon border tariff. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) represents a new way […]
