Chinese mills are churning out steel, aluminum and even refined copper at near-record levels and sending the surplus abroad, a trend steel industry analysts say could pressure industrial metal prices in the United States. After a year of lagging domestic demand, China’s exports of construction and manufacturing metals have surged, flooding global markets with cheap […]
Tag: China
Rare Earth Truce or Trap? China’s Grip Still Chokes Global Supply
With the United States and China ratcheting down the tariff war (for 90 days at least), many expected that the export of rare earths and permanent magnets would soon return to pre-trade war conditions, as MetalMiner’s weekly newsletter weighed in on in the past. However, that does not seem to be happening on the ground. […]
Iron Ore Defies the Odds: Prices Surge After Tariff Rollbacks
The past week or so has seen quite a yo-yo ride for global iron ore prices. Ore futures, including the most-active September contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), dropped by about 2% on May 8. The reasons for this were twofold: the likely consequences of the U.S.-China trade tariff war, and a demand slowdown […]
China’s Steel Flood: ASEAN Struggles as Exports Surge 32% Overnight
There’s no doubt that China is desperately seeking new markets to hawk its goods and commodities after the U.S. trade tariffs kicked in. This is especially true when it comes to the country’s steel industry. In fact, even prior to the trade war, Beijing was actively looking at expanding its access to steel markets. So, […]
Rare Earths MMI: Ukraine and U.S. Strike Critical Minerals Deal
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) witnessed a significant rise in price action month-over-month, with a total increase of 7.67%. So far, the global rare earths market has been on a springtime rollercoaster. Between April 1 and May 2, 2025, prices for these critical elements saw abrupt swings, supply chains were tested by geopolitics […]
Why Are Russian Pig Iron Imports to Europe Skyrocketing?
Over three years into its invasion of Ukraine, and despite the subsequent sanctions, Russian producers continue to generate significant revenues from exports. This is especially true of metals and minerals, including pig iron and semi-finished steel products, which Russia continues to supply to the European Union. Russian Pig Iron Imports Surged in January In 2024, […]
Is China Using Rare Earths as Its Most Powerful Trade Weapon Yet?
China is once again weaponizing rare earths elements in the tariff war with the United States. According to media reports, China recently suspended the export of certain rare earth minerals, ostensibly while re-drafting the regulations covering such exports. MetalMiner’s weekly newsletter states that if the issue is not resolved soon, both the halt in rare […]
Construction MMI: China Tariffs Climb to 145%. What it Means for China-Sourced Construction Materials
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) broke out of its over 6-month-long sideways trend to pivot down 5.41%. This new movement outside of its sideways range could indicate more volatility in the short term than the index experienced in the past 12 months. The new Trump tariffs on China caused some volatility in the price […]
Mongolia’s New Rail Link to Boost China’s Coking Coal by 30%
Construction work is tentatively due to start on a dual-gauge rail line between China and the Republic of Mongolia. Reports indicate that the rail line will increase coking coal transport by up to 30%. Current estimates say the project will begin in April, with completion scheduled for 2028. Avoid reactive purchasing metal in uncertain demand […]
Rare Earths MMI: Rare Earths Market Rattled by Myanmar Earthquake and Tariffs
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, edging up by a slight 1.82%. The global rare earth market has taken a significant hit lately, thanks to a combination of natural disasters and big geopolitical moves. A strong earthquake in Myanmar and the recent wave of U.S. tariffs have thrown this somewhat delicate industry […]
