Glencore withdrew approximately 15,000 tonnes of Russian copper from London Metal Exchange warehouses in Rotterdam over three trading sessions, planning to deliver the metal to China amid severe supply tightness in the world’s largest copper market. The withdrawals pushed LME copper inventories to their lowest level in a year, highlighting the growing desperation among traders...
READ MOREGerman copper producer Aurubis recorded a net profit of 76 million euros ($83.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 28% decline from the same period last year. The company attributed the profit reduction to higher energy costs and decreased remuneration payments from mining partners for smelting and refining services. Despite profitability challenges,...
READ MOREGlobal alumina production, a key raw material for aluminum smelting, declined to 12.41 million tonnes in April, down 2% from the previous month, according to data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), an industry association. The drop was driven primarily by reduced output in China, which accounts for nearly 60% of global production. However, year-over-year...
READ MOREThe global refined copper market recorded a surplus of 289,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, a slight increase from 287,000 tonnes in the same period last year, according to the International Copper Study Group. Refined copper production worldwide rose by just over 3% year-on-year to 7.1 million tonnes between January and March, while...
READ MOREPlatinum prices surged last week to their highest levels in two years, posting the strongest five-day gain in over a year as investors responded to new research forecasting a deeper-than-expected global supply deficit. The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) now projects that platinum supply in 2025 will fall to a five-year low of just 7...
READ MORERio Tinto announced on Thursday that CEO Jakob Stausholm will step down later this year after nearly five years in the role. The company confirmed that Stausholm will remain at the helm until a successor is appointed, with a formal selection process now underway. Internal candidates expected to be considered include Chief Commercial Officer Bold...
READ MOREJohnson Matthey analysts expect the palladium market to move into balance in 2025, following more than a decade of deficits from 2012 to 2024. This shift is driven by a 6% drop in palladium demand, mainly due to reduced production of gasoline vehicles and weaker investment interest. The outlook for platinum group metals (PGMs)—platinum, palladium,...
READ MOREThe International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that global copper demand, driven by the transition to low-carbon energy systems, will outpace supply by as much as 30% by 2035 if new investments and projects do not materialize. The agency’s latest Global Critical Minerals Outlook highlights that copper—a metal essential for electrical grids, renewable energy, and...
READ MOREAluminium 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 MORECurrent 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 MORECurrent 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 MORECurrent 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 MORECurrent 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 MORESumitomo 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 MORESpot 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 MOREA looming global copper shortage could undermine the world’s efforts to expand clean energy and digital infrastructure, according to a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The agency describes copper as “the new strategic raw material” essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicles and solar panels to AI infrastructure...
READ MOREThe global copper market is forecast to see a widening surplus over the next two years, with the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) projecting an excess of 289,000 tonnes in 2025 and 209,000 tonnes in 2026. This marks a notable increase from the group’s earlier estimate of a 194,000-tonne surplus for 2025, reflecting stronger-than-expected supply...
READ MORECopper has dominated commodity headlines in 2025, with prices swinging sharply amid global trade tensions and major new investments. After hitting a record high above $5.20 per pound in March, copper futures tumbled to a three-month low of $4.03 in April, driven by traders hedging ahead of tariff hikes and then unwinding positions as the...
READ MOREGlobal copper markets are expected to experience a supply surplus in 2025, according to the latest report released by the International Copper Study Group (ICSG). The ICSG forecasts refined copper production will outpace demand by approximately 467,000 metric tonnes, reversing from a supply deficit of 160,000 metric tonnes projected for 2024. The report attributes the...
READ MOREThe International Nickel Study Group (INSG) has forecast a global nickel market surplus of 198,000 metric tons for 2025, marking the third consecutive year of oversupply as production continues to outpace demand. The group projects global primary nickel production will reach 3.735 million tons this year, while usage is expected to total 3.537 million tons....
READ MOREThe global nickel niobium market, valued at $1.4 billion in 2024, is forecast to grow to $2.5 billion by 2034, according to recent industry analysis. This growth, at an annual rate of 6.2% from 2025 to 2034, is being driven by increased use of nickel niobium alloys in high-performance applications across aerospace, defense, automotive, and...
READ MOREGoldman Sachs has lowered its aluminium price forecast for 2025, citing the effects of new US tariffs on aluminium and automotive imports. The US-based bank now expects prices to average $2,000 per tonne in the third quarter of 2025, a substantial downgrade from its earlier estimate issued six months ago. Prices are forecast to recover...
READ MOREZinc has emerged as the underperformer among London Metal Exchange (LME) base metals in 2025, weighed down by oversupply concerns and weak demand. The latest benchmark smelter treatment charge between Korea Zinc and Teck Resources reinforces this bearish narrative, with fees dropping to $80 per metric ton—a sharp decline from last year’s $165 per ton...
READ MOREGlobal alumina production fell by 10.3% month-on-month to 11.54 million tonnes in February 2025, according to data from the International Aluminium Institute. However, compared to the same period last year, production saw a modest increase of 1.5%, rising from 11.37 million tonnes. Average daily global alumina output also dropped slightly to 412,100 tonnes in February...
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