The Renewables Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell two points this month, down to a November MMI reading of 101.Need buying strategies for steel? Request your two-month free trial of MetalMiner’s Outlook Cobalt Mining According to the head of commodities trader Trafigura, unregulated cobalt mining cannot be “wished away,” the Financial Times reported last month.In 2017, nearly […]
Tag: Cobalt
Week in Review: Auto Hearings, Wind Energy, Cobalt and a Uranium Investigation
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and some of the metals storylines here on MetalMiner®: Need buying strategies for steel? Try two free months of MetalMiner’s Outlook India sought consultations with the U.S. over its steel and aluminum tariffs. The Department of Commerce launched anti-dumping […]
Concentration of Cobalt Sector Expected to Increase in Coming Years
Cobalt is a product we don’t often talk about, partly because of its relative scarcity but also because of the specificity of its industrial application. Need buying strategies for steel? Try two free months of MetalMiner’s Outlook With that said, the industries it does draw interest from are high-profile ones, including the growing electric vehicle […]
This Morning in Metals: Cobalt Demand Continues to Rise
This morning in metals news, the cobalt craze intensifies, Switzerland goes to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, and U.S. raw steel production for the week ending July 7 was up 3.4%. Need buying strategies for steel? Try two free months of MetalMiner’s Outlook Demand for Cobalt Rises Cobalt […]
Renewables MMI: Cobalt, U.S. Steel Plate Post Big Price Jumps
The Renewables Monthly Metals Index (MMI) rose seven points on the month, hitting 107 for our April reading.
Need buying strategies for steel? Try two free months of MetalMiner’s Outlook
Within the basket of metals, Korean, Chinese and U.S. steel plate posted price increases, while Japanese steel plate traced back slightly. U.S. steel plate jumped significantly, posting a 13.6% increase for the month.
U.S. grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) coil fell on the month, while neodymium picked up by 0.7%.
The always volatile cobalt price shot up significantly last month, rising 10.6%.
Tesla Strategy Places Premium on Neodymium
As we mentioned earlier this week, growing demand for neodymium from electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla will put even more pressure on what is already a constrained market.
In short, that means rising prices for the material, reflected in this month’s activity.
Tesla is looking to neodymium for magnetic motors in its Model 3 Long Range cars, as mentioned in the Reuters report we cited Tuesday. Last year, supply fell short of demand by 3,300 tons, according to that report.
DRC Looks to Shake Up 2002 Mining Charter
When it comes to anything cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo is typically at the center, being the source of the majority of the world’s cobalt.
Earlier this week, MetalMiner’s Stuart Burns wrote about President Joseph Kabila’s move to readjust the nation’s 2002 mining charter to, essentially, secure a bigger piece of the pie vis-a-vis the country’s vast mineral resources.
It comes as no surprise that the multinational miners doing business in the DRC aren’t exactly thrilled by the proposition of increased royalties and levies. However, as Burns noted, value of materials like cobalt and the demand they draw, combined with their relative scarcity, means such multinationals will continue to do business there, no matter what happens with the charter.
“If the state takes a little more of the pie, it will probably be reflected in prices,” Burns wrote. “But with limited alternatives for products like cobalt, it is unlikely to dent mining companies’ enthusiasm for investing in the DRC.”
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DRC Makes a Grab for a Larger Slice of the Pie
I guess you can’t blame countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for looking to acquire a bigger piece of the wealth from their own supplies of natural resources. Need buying strategies for steel in 2018? MetalMiner’s Annual Outlook has what you need The Telegraph reports that President Joseph Kabila is ripping up the […]
Buyer Beware When it Comes to Cobalt
Cobalt may be a minor constituent of lithium ion batteries, but it is a crucial one. Need buying strategies for steel? Try two free months of MetalMiner’s Outlook Lithium has been the metal in the news this year. Bolstered by rising demand for hybrid and electric cars, however, the supply market has been struggling to […]
This Morning in Metals: Trump Calls for ‘Smart Trade’ in Tweet on Steel, Aluminum
This morning in metals, the president tweets about steel and aluminum (current Section 232 probes under his consideration), Apple’s move on cobalt and China plans to crack down on aluminum price speculation. Section 232 buying strategies – download MetalMiner’s Section 232 Investigation Impact Report today! Trump Tweets About Steel, Aluminum; Announcement Possibly Coming Today According […]
