The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved up, accelerating gains from the previous month. The Bullish U.S. price of copper saw the index rise by 4.75% from March to April. Price of Copper Finally Finds Peak Although they have subsequently been delayed, reciprocal tariffs helped copper prices find a peak. At the start of 2025, […]
Tag: Copper
Historical Price Trends for Industrial Metals Over the Past Decade
Over the last ten years, industrial metal prices have gone on a wild ride, rising, falling and rising again, thanks to everything from global economic swings to supply chain hiccups and geopolitical drama. If you’re in manufacturing, investing, or policy, keeping tabs on these price trends isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Steel Historical Price Trends […]
The Global Copper Race Heats Up: India Moves into Zambia’s Mining Sector
Much like neighboring China has been doing for decades, India is now making inroads into the African continent to mine copper reserves, among other mineral assets. It is a move that is sure to shake up the already-competitive international copper market, where multiple nations continue to show significantly increased interest in Africa. Staring in the face […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Up on 25% Tariff Threat
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) held sideways, although the upside bias continued to accelerate. Supported by a rise among most of its components, the index increased 2.8% from January to February. 25% Tariff Threat Boosts Comex Copper Price Comex copper prices remained decidedly bullish, jumping even higher on the suggestion that a 25% copper […]
Copper Titans Unite: Anglo American and Codelco Forge a Game-Changing Alliance
Mining multinational Anglo American recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Codelco to create a new operating company. The reported goal of the copper market shakeup is to increase production from the two companies’ adjacent mines, both of which lie in northeastern Chile. In a February 20 statement, London-headquartered Anglo quoted chief executive Duncan Wanblad […]
China Puts the Brakes on Copper Smelters. Will It Ease the Industry’s Supply Strain?
Throughout 2024, China worked to control its rapidly growing copper smelters, which were lowering profit margins amid a bustling copper market. In response, China has released new, more stringent regulations for the construction of new copper smelters. The move aims to keep excess capacity in check. However, it’s a slowdown rather than a complete halt […]
Trade War Starts Between World’s Two Leading Economies
The so-called “Trump Tariffs” imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump caused uncertainty in the global metals market earlier in the week. Though he did pause imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada for one month, there could still me plenty more chaos down the road. The current tariffs include a 25% levy on goods […]
Copper MMI: Copper Prices Wrap Up 2024 Sideways, Up 7.66% from 2023
Overall, the Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) remained bearish, with a 4.65% decline from November to December. Copper Prices to Close 2024 Up, But the Outlook is Down Often a bellwether for the global economy, the price of copper became a bellwether for market emotionality throughout 2024. Despite lackluster demand conditions, copper prices embarked on […]
Construction MMI: China’s Export Tax Rebate Reverberates on U.S. Construction Market
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held its sideways trend, dropping by a slight 1.09%. Despite a torrent of construction news, the index didn’t budge much month-over-month and had a minimal reaction to recent interest rate drops. The Fed will likely need to drop interest rates more aggressively for the construction index to display any […]
Déjà Vu for China: Copper Scrap Shortages Push Copper to New Heights
It’s déjà vu for China’s copper smelters. But how will it affect the global price of copper? The shortfall China faced in mid-2024 following the limited availability of copper ore in June led the country to significantly increase its imports of copper scrap as an alternative raw material. In fact, in the first five months […]