China’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 MOREIran’s aluminium production declined in the first 11 months of the Persian calendar year (ending February 18), totaling 552,185 tonnes, down from 582,200 tonnes a year earlier. The drop, representing a 5% year-on-year decline, comes even as the country’s bauxite and alumina production increased, according to data from state-owned holding company IMIDRO. The country’s four...
READ MOREPure Lithium Corporation, a vertically integrated lithium metal battery technology company, has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technology Office to scale the production of lithium metal anodes using recycled lithium metal. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. The project focuses on recovering lithium metal waste...
READ MORERussia plans to begin industrial lithium production by 2030, targeting an output of at least 60,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually as part of its strategy to reduce reliance on imports and expand domestic battery production, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The move aligns with directives from President Vladimir Putin,...
READ MORELondon Metal Exchange (LME) zinc futures climbed nearly 3% last week, closing at $2,972.5 per metric ton, as supply concerns intensified following a planned production cut by Nyrstar, one of the world’s largest zinc smelters. Nyrstar announced it will reduce output at its Hobart zinc smelter in Australia by 25% starting in April 2025. The...
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 MOREOn March 17, Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new recycling plant in Torija, Spain. The EUR 180 million project is a key component of Hydro’s circular economy strategy, aiming to increase the use of post-consumer aluminium scrap while expanding its low-carbon aluminium offerings in Europe. The...
READ MOREThe Philippines has invited India to source nickel for battery production, aiming to diversify its export markets and reduce dependence on China, which currently accounts for 98% of its nickel exports. Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo emphasized the need for stronger trade partnerships, highlighting the opportunity for greater economic collaboration between Manila and New Delhi. Speaking...
READ MOREZijin Mining is ramping up its global expansion with plans to significantly increase copper, gold, and lithium production over the next five years. The China-based company, with a market capitalization of approximately $60 billion, aims to produce 1.5 million tons of copper and 3.2 million ounces of gold annually by 2028. At the 2025 Prospectors...
READ MOREVladimir Potanin, president and co-owner of Russian mining giant Nornickel, confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations for a joint copper smelting venture with Chinese partners were progressing, with a Chinese government-approved concept expected to take clearer shape by the summer. His remarks came during the congress by the powerful business lobby group Russian Union of Industrialists...
READ MORENovelis announced on Thursday that it has successfully produced the world’s first aluminium coil made entirely from 100% recycled, end-of-life automotive scrap. The development marks a major step forward in sustainability and circular manufacturing for the European automotive sector. The new aluminium material meets the rigorous industry standards for surface quality and formability, making it...
READ MOREVale Base Metals, a privately held entity spun out from Brazilian mining giant Vale S.A., is aiming to double its copper production to approximately 700,000 tons per year by 2035, according to CEO Shaun Usmar. Speaking at the 2025 BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference, Usmar emphasized the company’s strategic focus on battery...
READ MOREU.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that President Donald Trump’s expanded 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum will remain in place until domestic production is significantly strengthened. Lutnick also revealed that Trump plans to include copper in his trade protections, marking a further escalation in U.S. trade policy. Speaking to Fox Business Network, Lutnick said...
READ MOREElectra Battery Materials, poised to become the only cobalt sulfate refinery in North America, is navigating financial hurdles as it works to complete its Temiskaming Shores facility in Northern Ontario. Construction at the site stalled in 2023 due to funding shortages, but the company remains optimistic about securing the remaining capital needed to resume operations....
READ MOREBolivia is facing growing public opposition to contracts signed with Chinese and Russian firms to exploit its vast lithium reserves, with local communities arguing the deals provide little benefit to the country. The controversy has led the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies to suspend parliamentary discussions on the agreements, pending further consultations with civil society groups....
READ MORERusal has reached an agreement with Indian firms Pioneer and KCap to acquire a stake in Pioneer Aluminium Industries, an alumina producer. The deal will see Rusal’s subsidiary purchase up to 50% of the company’s shares in three stages. According to a filing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Rusal will acquire an initial 26%...
READ MOREBoliden has completed a significant expansion at its Odda zinc smelter in Norway, nearly doubling production capacity in what is one of the largest industrial investments on Norway’s mainland. The upgraded facility now has the capacity to produce 350,000 tonnes of zinc annually, up from 200,000 tonnes. The investment includes new infrastructure for logistics and...
READ MORETeck Resources Limited announced a $40 million USD equity investment in Bunker Hill Mining Corp. on March 6, aiming to reinforce the North American critical minerals supply chain. The investment will secure a reliable source of high-quality, cost-competitive zinc and lead concentrate from Idaho’s Silver Valley for Teck’s Trail operations in British Columbia. The funding...
READ MOREGlencore PLC is set to further reduce costs at its copper and zinc plants in Canada as part of a broader review of its global smelting operations, prompted by declining processing margins. According to an internal memo cited by Bloomberg News on March 14, the company is restructuring its operations to improve efficiency. As part...
READ MORENorwegian renewable energy company Scatec has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Egypt Aluminium to develop a 1.1 GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Egypt. The project, valued at approximately $650 million, aims to support the decarbonization of Egypt Aluminium’s operations and align...
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 MOREIndonesia will issue Freeport Indonesia a six-month permit to export copper concentrate while its smelter undergoes repairs, ensuring continued government royalty payments, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Monday. Freeport has been seeking an export permit after a fire in October 2024 damaged its new smelter in Gresik, East Java province, forcing a halt in...
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 MOREAccording to the latest update from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. mines produced 84,100 metric tons of recoverable copper in November 2024. Average daily mine production remained at 2,800 metric tons, unchanged from October but 12% lower than in November 2023. Year-to-date mine output of recoverable copper through November 2024 totaled 948,000 metric tons,...
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