The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) dropped drastically again this month, suffering a 15.5% decline. Despite this, downward price action began to slow down and flatten around March 16. As of March 30, prices began to rise again. Further adding to the confusion was the fact that some components in the index traded flat. […]
Tag: China
Iron Ore Prices Increase as Chinese Government Prohibits Stockpiling
Iron ore futures continue to climb steadily. The Singapore benchmark for iron ore futures exceeded U.S. $130 a ton on Monday. The increase was largely due to improved steel plant profitability and a positive demand forecast in China, the world’s largest steel producer. However, these increases in the price of iron ore remained restrained by […]
Chinese Steel Production Firm Baowu Pursues Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore
New developments continue to signal coming improvements in Chinese steel production. Among these is a forecast of prospects for the country’s vehicle sector and shipyards. This would ultimately thaw out the Sino-Australian relationship. One of the world’s biggest steelmakers, China’s Baowu Steel Group Corp., is keen to seek closer ties with Aussie iron ore miner […]
China and Peru Place Drag on Copper Prices
Hopes of a recovery in copper prices seem to have flat-lined since the start of February. The primary reason for this is lukewarm demand from China, one of the world’s biggest copper consumers. This effectively ends the price surge markets saw over the past few months, culminating at the end of January. Initially, the optimism […]
Rare Earths MMI: Different Countries Racing for Global Rare Earth Dominance
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) rose considerably over the past month, climbing by a total of 7.05%. The primary factor influencing the rare earth price forecast over the past several months was zero-COVID. Now, the focus is on those restrictions being lifted. Currently, China reports that the country’s COVID cases are dropping. China’s […]
Construction MMI: Chinese Sourced Steel Prices Spike, Supply Pinches Possible
The Construction MMI (Monthly MetalMiner Index) rose considerably by 7.68%, with Chinese steel prices getting a significant boost. In fact, all facets of the index related to China (except for iron ore) increased. The movement came in the wake of zero-COVID restrictions lifting, which resulted in a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. While this was […]
Rare Earths MMI: Surge in China’s COVID Cases Impact Prices
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly MetalMiner Index) jumped slightly more than in the past six months, rising 4.45%. All month, geopolitical factors, mostly involving China, significantly impacted the index. For instance, production still proved low in the wake of zero-COVID. Then, once zero-COVID restrictions were lifted, the spike in cases across China kept the drag […]
China’s Economy: Don’t Get Your Hopes Up Just Yet
Could China’s economy resume its normal growth trajectory in 2023 after recording one of its lowest growth rates ever in 2022? Recently, the country introduced some more financial stimuli and eased its rather draconian COVID-19 countermeasures. This has left the world waiting for the resurgence of Chinese manufacturing and the economy at large. But will […]
Copper Price Trends: 2022 Review
Looking at 2022 copper price trends, the market was nearly as volatile as metals like nickel and aluminum. Currently, copper prices are attempting to break prior highs but have yet to get there. As copper taps into short-term resistance levels, the possibility of a pullback in price appears more and more likely. Meanwhile, the copper […]
China and Australia to Renew Trading of Iron Ore, Coking Coal, Other Goods
It’s been 50 years since Australia first established diplomatic relations with China. But compared to the relative warmth of the early years, modern relations between the two nations are in a deep freeze. Of course, Australia calling for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak didn’t help matters. In fact, it led […]
