President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at increasing the domestic production of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, uranium, copper, potash, and gold. The order invokes the Defense Production Act (DPA), a Cold War-era law, to provide financing, streamline permitting, and prioritize mining projects on federal lands. This move is part of...
READ MOREThe Rheinwerk aluminium plant in Neuss, Germany—once one of Europe’s largest producers of primary aluminium—has fully transitioned to recycled production after shutting down its energy-intensive smelter operations in 2023 due to soaring electricity costs. While its towering chimneys now stand dormant, the facility is active around the clock, processing scrap metal into new aluminium products...
READ MOREChina’s aluminium production increased by 2.6% year-on-year in January and February, reaching 7.32 million metric tons, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The rise in output was driven by improved profitability at smelters, largely due to easing alumina supply constraints and falling raw material costs. Total production of ten nonferrous metals,...
READ MOREChina’s imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products fell by 24.3% year-on-year in January, reaching 290,000 metric tons, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs. The decline comes amid shifting market dynamics in the world’s largest aluminium-consuming nation. The reported figures include primary aluminium and unwrought, alloyed aluminium. While aluminium imports declined,...
READ MOREIndonesia’s proposed increase in mineral royalties is sending ripples through the mining sector, with analysts warning of potential pressure on profit margins, investor confidence, and the country’s downstream processing ambitions. A public consultation paper released by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry under President Prabowo Subianto details plans to raise royalties on key commodities, including...
READ MOREAtlas Lithium has successfully received its modular Dense Media Separation (DMS) lithium processing plant at the Port of Santos, Brazil, marking a significant step toward its goal of becoming a key lithium producer in Brazil’s Lithium Valley. The facility, fully owned and paid for by Atlas Lithium, was transported via the cargo vessel Irene’s Wisdom...
READ MOREEmirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world’s largest producer of premium aluminum, has adopted a hybrid cloud infrastructure managed by Azure Arc to enhance operational efficiency and optimize production. The approach integrates on-premises datacenters with Azure’s public cloud, enabling advanced AI and automation solutions. “We use the best of the Azure public cloud but we also...
READ MOREPeru’s copper production could rise from nearly three million metric tons per year to four million in the coming years, according to Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero. “Just with the northern mining corridor, primarily in the Cajamarca region, we could increase annual copper production by one million fine metric tons, bringing total output from...
READ MORESpot gold experienced a sharp drop in early Asian trading on March 7, falling from a session high of $2,914 per ounce to an intraday low of $2,896.40 per ounce. Analysts attribute the decline to profit-taking ahead of the U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls report and rising U.S. Treasury yields, which reduced the appeal of the non-yielding...
READ MOREMining giant BHP has acquired a stake in Australian company Cobre’s Kitlanya copper projects in Botswana, committing up to $25 million in funding for exploration of copper-silver deposits in the region. BHP’s investment will focus on Cobre’s East and West Kitlanya projects on the Kalahari Copper Belt margins. The company has pledged a minimum of...
READ MOREResearchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance metal 3D printing, optimizing the production of high-performance titanium alloy components. Their AI-driven approach accelerates the manufacturing process for Ti-6Al-4V, a widely used titanium alloy valued for its strength and low weight. “The...
READ MOREThe World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) has published its Platinum Quarterly report for Q4 2024 and the full year, providing an updated forecast for 2025. The platinum market recorded a significant deficit of 995 koz in 2024, exceeding earlier projections by 46%, as total demand surpassed 8 Moz for the first time since 2019. Strong...
READ MORETennant Mining has commenced commissioning at its Stage 1 Nobles Project gold processing plant, with first gold production moved ahead from the second half of 2025 to June. The near-completion of construction and the finalization of Pan African Resources PLC’s A$77.4 million buyout in December have positioned the company for long-term expansion. Managing Director Peter...
READ MOREMercuria Energy Group and Glencore have renewed agreements to purchase copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state mining company, Gecamines, following the company’s decision to independently market its share of output from joint ventures. The two trading firms secured deals to buy copper from the Tenke Fungurume mine, a major operation majority-owned by China’s...
READ MORECopper miner Freeport Indonesia could receive an export quota of approximately 1 million metric tons of copper concentrate, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. The quota, valid for six months, falls under a government regulation that permits mineral exports under force majeure conditions. Indonesia, a resource-rich nation, has enforced an export ban...
READ MOREPresident Donald Trump has directed the secretary of commerce to investigate national security risks posed by the United States’ increasing dependence on imported copper. The probe may lead to policy measures aimed at securing domestic copper supply, though experts warn that meeting demand without relying on imports poses a significant challenge. The U.S. Geological Survey...
READ MOREThe 14% increase in copper prices since the start of 2024 has led to mixed results among copper miners, with the Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX) seeing little movement. However, some miners have significantly outperformed, including Taseko Mines, which has gained 8% this year. Taseko’s operations in Canada and the U.S. place it in...
READ MOREChina’s production of battery-grade lithium carbonate reached 670,000 metric tons in 2024, marking a 45% increase from the previous year, according to data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Thursday. The lithium market continues to face turbulence, with the most traded lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange closing...
READ MORENovelis Tests Hydrogen for Scrap Aluminium Remelting US metals producer Novelis has conducted a series of tests utilizing hydrogen in a scrap aluminium remelting furnace at its Latchford facility in the UK. The trials demonstrated a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to natural gas use. The process required modifications, including the installation of...
READ MOREChina has called on the United States to halt its investigation into potential new tariffs on copper imports, warning of retaliatory measures if Chinese entities are affected. The statement came after President Donald Trump directed the Commerce Department to launch a national security probe into copper imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act...
READ MOREKingsrose Mining Limited has announced the acquisition of the Jakon nickel-copper-cobalt project in Central Finland from Rio Tinto Exploration Finland Oy. This acquisition strengthens Kingsrose’s presence within the Kotalahti Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Belt and forms part of its Exploration Alliance with BHP in Finland. The Jakon project spans 205 km², bringing Kingsrose’s total landholding under the BHP...
READ MOREAn Indonesian nickel producer has announced a $1.8 billion investment in the construction of a new nickel and cobalt processing plant, as the country seeks to enhance the value of its mineral production. PT Merdeka Battery Materials confirmed this week that it has signed agreements to build the facility on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes)....
READ MORENickel prices exhibited a downward trend last week, with spot prices fluctuating between 123,200-127,300 yuan/mt and SHFE nickel futures ranging from 123,300 yuan/mt to 126,300 yuan/mt. Premiums for Jinchuan No.1 nickel were quoted between 1,700-2,100 yuan/mt, with an average premium of 1,850 yuan/mt, declining week-on-week. Market trading remained sluggish, while downstream end-use demand remained weak,...
READ MOREVSMPO-Avisma Corporation has expressed interest in participating in both domestic and international projects, provided they ensure mutually beneficial cooperation. The corporation’s press service confirmed this position in a statement to TASS. “The corporation is interested in projects, including foreign ones, where there is demand for high-tech titanium products, of course, provided that it is mutually...
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