Vale Base Metals, the copper and nickel unit of Brazilian mining giant Vale SA, is aiming for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) by 2027 or potentially sooner, according to CEO Shaun Usmar. The move is intended to position the subsidiary for a premium valuation over other metals producers and provide strategic flexibility in a dynamic...
READ MORECobalt 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 MOREGlobal 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 MOREIndonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara and French mining company Eramet are in advanced discussions to acquire a stake in a high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) nickel plant located in the Weda Bay Industrial Park, North Maluku. The facility, majority owned by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, produces battery-grade nickel essential for electric vehicles. If finalized, this would...
READ MOREAustralia’s government has announced plans to establish a $1.2 billion (USD 760 million) strategic reserve of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on China and strengthen the country’s position in global supply chains. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese detailed the initiative on April 24, stating that the reserve will focus on 31 minerals vital for modern...
READ MORECobalt prices have surged nearly 37% in the past month, climbing from $23,985 per metric ton to $32,795 per metric ton, following the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) decision to halt metal exports at the end of February 2025. The DRC, which supplies more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, introduced the four-month export ban...
READ MOREChile, Canada, and Peru — the three largest suppliers of copper to the United States — have formally urged the Trump administration to avoid imposing tariffs on copper imports, arguing that their shipments pose no threat to U.S. national security and are essential to the country’s industrial supply chain. The appeals come in response to...
READ MOREChilean Mining Minister Aurora Williams has projected that copper prices could stabilize at $7,800 per metric ton as global trade tensions continue to influence market dynamics. Her comments, made during an interview with *Diario Financiero*, highlight the role of ongoing negotiations between the United States, China, and the European Union in shaping copper’s future value....
READ MOREZambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, is forecast to increase its copper output to 1 million metric tons in 2025, up from 820,000 tons in 2024. Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane attributed the growth to the revival of key mining operations, including Lubambe, Luanshya, and Kalengwa mines. This marks a significant recovery for Zambia’s mining sector, which...
READ MORECopper prices experienced unprecedented volatility on April 7, 2025, plunging as much as 7.7% within 15 minutes of opening on the London Metal Exchange (LME) before rebounding nearly $1,000 per ton in just over two hours. The dramatic recovery was driven by a surge in buying activity from Chinese importers and fabricators, who capitalized on...
READ MORECopper prices experienced unprecedented volatility on April 7, 2025, plunging as much as 7.7% within 15 minutes of opening on the London Metal Exchange (LME) before rebounding nearly $1,000 per ton in just over two hours. The dramatic recovery was driven by a surge in buying activity from Chinese importers and fabricators, who capitalized on...
READ MOREGold prices, which recently hit record highs above $3,000 per ounce, have fallen below this threshold for the first time in weeks. As of April 7, gold futures are trading at $2,997.6 per ounce, marking a 1.2% drop from the previous close. Copper prices also experienced significant declines, falling by 7.7% on the London Metal...
READ MOREGold prices have surpassed $3,100 per ounce for the first time, continuing a historic bull run that reflects deepening global economic uncertainty and a renewed investor appetite for hard assets. The rally follows a period of consolidation in late 2024 and signals a shift in sentiment as concerns mount over U.S. economic risks, geopolitical tensions,...
READ MOREVanguard has surpassed BlackRock to become the largest shareholder in Alcoa, acquiring over eight million shares in the second half of 2024. This increase has pushed Vanguard’s stake in Alcoa to 10.03%, with a total of 25.98 million shares. In comparison, BlackRock holds 24.66 million shares, representing 9.52% of the company. The shift in shareholding...
READ MOREEcoPro Materials, a precursor production subsidiary of EcoPro Group, has secured $297 million (KRW 400 billion) in investment to expand into the nickel smelting industry in Indonesia. The company has secured a total of $288 million (KRW 389 billion) through a third-party allotment capital increase. The majority of the funds will be used to acquire...
READ MOREThe premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for the April–June quarter has been set at $182 per metric ton, a 20% drop from the $228 charged in the previous quarter, according to sources directly involved in the negotiations. This marks the first quarterly decline in premiums in five quarters and reflects ongoing sluggish demand...
READ MOREBelgian metals recycling company Umicore announced plans to reduce its capital expenditure by €1.4 billion ($1.51 billion) between 2025 and 2028, bringing total investments down to €1.6 billion. The company’s battery cathode materials division will bear the brunt of these cuts, with €800 million slashed from its budget due to weaker-than-expected electric vehicle (EV) sales...
READ MOREThe global lithium market is undergoing significant changes in 2025, driven by rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions alongside advancements in extraction technologies. Despite recent price volatility, industry experts remain optimistic about long-term growth as the clean energy transition continues to accelerate. At CERAWeek 2025, analysts highlighted the persistent gap between...
READ MOREThe copper market in Asia is experiencing significant tightening as speculation grows over potential U.S. import tariffs on the industrial metal. This has led to a surge in copper prices, with New York futures rallying far more than the global benchmark on the London Metal Exchange (LME), creating an unusual price dislocation. The Yangshan premium,...
READ MOREElliott Associates, a U.S.-based hedge fund, is reviewing its options for further legal action against the London Metal Exchange (LME) after Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fined the exchange £9.2 million ($11.9 million) for its handling of the 2022 nickel price crisis. The fine, announced on March 20, 2025, marks the first enforcement action against...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (Amplats) is set to begin operations as a standalone company under the name Valterra Platinum on May 28, following its demerger from parent company Anglo American. The new name, a combination of “Value” and “Terra” (Latin for earth), reflects the company’s focus on maximizing shareholder value and its connection to natural resources....
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 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...
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