Norsk Hydro has confirmed it will close its Birtley aluminium extrusion plant in the UK at the end of May 2025, citing ongoing challenging market conditions. The 12,000 metric-ton-per-year facility had been scheduled to operate until the end of May, with closure expected by the end of June. The company has completed consultations with employees...
READ MORE
Rio Tinto and Chile’s state-owned Codelco have signed a binding agreement to form a joint venture aimed at developing and operating a major lithium project at the Salar de Maricunga in northern Chile. Under the terms of the agreement, Rio Tinto will acquire a 49.99% stake in Salar de Maricunga SpA, the entity holding the...
READ MORE
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced plans to construct a new primary aluminium production facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma, marking the first such plant to be built in the United States since 1980. The $4 billion project is expected to nearly double U.S. aluminium output, adding 600,000 tonnes of annual production capacity at a time when...
READ MORE
Aluminium Dunkerque has commissioned a new melting furnace dedicated to aluminium recycling at its French facility. Known as Furnace 8, the installation will enable the company to recycle 7,000 tonnes of aluminium waste annually and produce an additional 20,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium each year. This development is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne...
READ MORE
Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) has inaugurated a new extrusion production hall in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do province, South Korea. The 13,800 square meter facility, constructed with an investment of approximately $49.8 million (converted from €46 million), features a fully automated extrusion line with a pressing force of 60 meganewtons and comprehensive upstream and downstream systems. The facility,...
READ MORE
Cobalt Holdings has confirmed plans to list on the London Stock Exchange in June through a $230 million initial public offering, marking a rare new entry for investors seeking direct exposure to the price of cobalt. Trading is expected to begin on or around June 10, with both institutional and UK retail investors able to...
READ MORE
Aluminium prices are expected to come under pressure this year due to weakening demand linked to global trade tensions and economic uncertainty, analysts say, though a longstanding cap on Chinese output may help limit the extent of the decline. Aluminium prices rose 7% in 2023 but have fallen around 2% so far this year on...
READ MORE
India’s government is preparing to defend its recent restrictions on copper cathode imports, arguing that there is adequate domestic supply and a sufficient number of certified suppliers, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The dispute stems from a petition filed with the Bombay High Court by the Bombay Metal Exchange and the Bombay...
READ MORE
Current Zinc Price Trends Zinc market has experienced notable fluctuations in early 2025, shaped by macroeconomic uncertainty, shifts in industrial demand, and evolving supply conditions. As of Q1 2025, the zinc price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) is averaging around $2,450 per metric ton, reflecting a modest recovery from the late-2023 lows of $2,300/t....
READ MORE
BHP and Lundin Mining Agree to Jointly Acquire Filo Corp., Establish Copper Joint Venture in Vicuña DistrictBHP and Lundin Mining Corporation have agreed to jointly acquire 100% of the Toronto-listed Filo Corp., which wholly owns the Filo del Sol copper project in the Vicuña district, spanning Argentina and Chile. The companies will subsequently form a...
READ MORE
Current Platinum Price Trends As of Q2 2025, platinum prices are showing modest recovery from their 2023 lows. The metal is currently trading around $950–$1,000 per ounce, up from sub-$900 levels seen during the economic slowdown of 2023. Key drivers of recent price behavior include: Despite historically being more expensive than gold, platinum price is...
READ MORE
Current Aluminum Price Trends The aluminum market in 2025 reflects ongoing volatility shaped by energy prices, geopolitical tensions, and shifting industrial demand. As of Q2 2025, aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) are averaging around $2,300 per metric ton — a modest recovery from the lows of late 2023. Recent fluctuations are driven...
READ MORE
Current Nickel Price Trends The nickel market has seen significant volatility in recent months. As of early 2025, nickel prices have recovered slightly from the sharp downturn experienced in mid-2023, driven by oversupply and subdued demand in China. Benchmark prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have hovered around $16,000 to $17,500 per metric ton...
READ MORE
Sumitomo Metal Mining has outlined its expectations for the global nickel and copper markets in its 2027 three-year business plan, forecasting continued surpluses in both metals through at least 2026. The company anticipates a nickel market surplus of around 200,000 tons annually in both 2025 and 2026, driven primarily by ongoing production growth in China...
READ MORE
Spot gold traded at around $3,239 per ounce in early Asian hours on Wednesday, after a modest recovery on Tuesday that saw prices close 0.46% higher at $3,249.90/oz. The rebound came after a more than 2.7% drop on Monday but may be short-lived, according to analysts. Christian Borjon Valencia of FXStreet noted that Tuesday’s rally...
READ MORE
Norway-based Transition Elements has applied for an exclusive permit to explore lithium potential in France’s Hérault department, with a 218 km² area under consideration across 22 communes between Bédarieux and Clermont-l’Hérault. The application, submitted in October 2023, is currently under administrative review and has not yet been approved, according to the Hérault prefecture. The project...
READ MORE
Global platinum production overview Platinum is a vital precious metal with applications in automotive catalysts, industrial processes, and jewelry. In recent years, its role in green hydrogen technologies and fuel cells has expanded its strategic value. Global platinum production reached approximately 236 metric tons in 2024, with South Africa accounting for over 70% of the...
READ MORE
Global copper production overview The global copper industry continues to expand, driven by accelerating demand from energy transition technologies, electric vehicles, and infrastructure projects. In 2024, global copper production reached approximately 22.8 million metric tons, with significant contributions from Chile, Peru, China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chile remains the leading producer, accounting for...
READ MORE
Glencore increased its zinc metal production by 8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 227,700 tonnes. The Anglo-Swiss commodities group attributed the rise to the restart of its Nordenham smelter in Germany, which had been offline since late 2022, and solid output from its Spanish subsidiary, Asturiana de Zinc. The company, led by...
READ MORE
Indonesia plans to more than double its cobalt production capacity to 114,630 metric tonnes per year by 2027, up from 55,630 tonnes in 2024, according to Septian Hario Seto, executive secretary of the country’s National Economic Council. Speaking at the Cobalt Congress 2025 in Singapore, Seto said the country has no intention of controlling global...
READ MORE
Rio Tinto has signed a final joint venture agreement with Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) for the development of the Winu copper and gold project in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia. The deal gives SMM a 30% stake in the project for up to $430.4 million. Under the terms, SMM will pay $195 million...
READ MORE
U.S.-based Merritt, a long-standing manufacturer of livestock and gooseneck trailers, has acquired British Columbia-based Magnum Trailer & Equipment in a move aimed at expanding its aluminium product offerings for the heavy-duty trucking industry across North America. The acquisition brings Merritt’s total workforce to more than 520 employees across five locations, with over 400,000 square feet...
READ MORE
China imported nearly 3 million tonnes of copper ore and concentrate in April, setting a monthly record as smelters in the country struggle with tight feedstock supply and collapsing treatment charges. The surge in imports is expected to alleviate some pressure in the domestic market, where a growing number of smelters have been operating with...
READ MORE
The government of Guinea has initiated the process of withdrawing Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) mining licence, escalating a dispute over customs duties that began in October 2024. The move follows the suspension of EGA’s bauxite exports and mining operations in the country. According to sources cited by Reuters, Guinea has officially notified EGA of the...
READ MORE
