Korea’s major aluminum flat producers—Novelis Korea, Choil Aluminum, and Daeho Al—achieved a combined shipment of 865,148 tons in 2024, a 5.5% increase from 820,228 tons in 2023. However, domestic shipments fell by 7.2%, dropping from 329,363 tons to 305,616 tons, as the local market faced significant challenges. In contrast, export demand rose sharply, climbing from...
READ MOREDespite macroeconomic uncertainties, including the geopolitical challenges posed by Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the outlook for the copper market remains positive, according to a report by Bank of America (BofA). The analysis highlights falling copper inventories in China, growing demand from the country, and ongoing supply constraints as key factors supporting strong...
READ MOREVale Base Metals, a subsidiary of Vale SA (NYSE: VALE), has announced a strategic review to explore and evaluate options for its mining and exploration assets in Thompson, Manitoba. The review, which includes the potential sale of the assets, is part of Vale Base Metals’ broader effort to optimize its global mining portfolio and focus...
READ MOREIn early Monday trading (January 27) in the Asian market, spot gold rebounded slightly, with prices currently near $2,773 per ounce. This marks a recovery of nearly $10 from the intraday low of $2,763.65 per ounce. Analysts predict that gold prices may soon challenge the all-time high of $2,790.15 per ounce, set on October 31...
READ MOREThe production of recycled-content copper is projected to see a modest increase in 2024 compared to last year, according to data from the Lisbon-based International Copper Study Group (ICSG). Between January and November 2024, global secondary copper production exceeded 4.23 million metric tons (mmt). With at least 378,000 metric tons produced monthly in the last...
READ MOREMining company BHP has decided to halt its planned acquisition of competitor Anglo American, according to reports from the Financial Times. The deal, initially valued at £38 billion, has become unfeasible due to changing market conditions and strategic developments by Anglo American. Anglo American’s restructuring efforts, which include exiting operations in coal, diamonds, and platinum,...
READ MOREMarine Air Flow International, an Australian manufacturer known for its engine ventilation equipment, has shifted to using Capral Aluminium’s LocAl Super Green, a low-carbon aluminium solution. This transition marks a step toward sustainability for the company, which supplies filtration systems to ensure clean air in marine engine rooms. Nearly half of its business comes from...
READ MOREResearchers at Stanford University have identified niobium phosphide as a material capable of outperforming copper in conducting electricity at the nanoscale. This breakthrough could pave the way for more efficient and compact electronic devices, significantly reducing energy consumption and overcoming limitations posed by traditional materials. Copper has long been a cornerstone of electrical conductivity, but...
READ MOREThe bipartisan Congressional Aluminum Caucus has been re-launched, spearheaded by Congresswoman Carol Miller and Representatives Glenn Grothman, Haley Stevens, and Morgan McGarvey. The caucus aims to promote awareness of the U.S. aluminum industry, address key challenges, and highlight the metal’s essential role in modern manufacturing. Congresswoman Miller emphasized the economic and industrial significance of aluminum,...
READ MORECobalt prices have fallen to their lowest levels in nearly a decade, with the battery material trading at $11.02 per pound as of January 23. The price drop reflects record-high production levels, which continue to exert downward pressure on the market. The world’s largest cobalt producer, CMOC Group, achieved a record output of 114,165 tons...
READ MOREPeru’s copper production could reach three million metric tons annually, according to Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero. The Tía María project in Arequipa is progressing, with broader mining investments totaling $4.88 billion in 2024. The sector generated 230,000 jobs, producing 2.71 million metric tons of copper and $43 billion in mineral exports by November....
READ MOREScientists and companies in the U.S. are exploring novel ways to secure critical minerals, including a method called phytomining, which uses plants to extract metals like nickel from soil. This approach, backed by federal funding, aims to reduce reliance on traditional mining and mitigate China’s dominance in critical minerals. Phytomining relies on hyperaccumulators—plants that absorb...
READ MORELead and zinc, often extracted together from the same mines, have experienced strikingly different market trends in recent months. Zinc prices surged to a 20-month high of $3,284 per metric ton in October 2024 on the London Metal Exchange (LME), driven by tight raw material supplies. In contrast, lead prices have languished, burdened by surging...
READ MOREA team from Leiden University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has identified the root cause of platinum electrode corrosion, a discovery that could enhance green hydrogen production and improve electrochemical sensors. The findings were published in Nature Materials. While platinum is known for its durability, the study revealed that negatively polarized platinum electrodes degrade...
READ MOREIndonesia has approved a 2025 nickel mining quota of 298.5 million wet metric tons, up from 271.89 million tons in 2024, according to the country’s nickel miners’ association (APNI). This announcement contradicts earlier reports of a potential production cut, with APNI Secretary General Meidy Katrin Lengkey confirming the figure during a parliamentary hearing. Earlier in...
READ MORETianqi Lithium, one of the largest global producers of lithium-ion battery materials, reported a worse-than-expected loss for 2024, driven by falling lithium prices, asset impairments, and foreign exchange losses. The Chengdu-based company disclosed in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange that it expects a net loss of 7.1 billion yuan ($978.3 million) to...
READ MOREGold prices climbed to nearly three-month highs on Wednesday, January 22, reaching $2,763.42 per ounce during the session before closing at $2,756.10 per ounce. The rise comes despite a strengthening U.S. dollar, as strong safe-haven demand pushed gold prices decisively above the psychological $2,750 per ounce level. Market analysts attribute the surge to growing investor...
READ MOREThe electric vehicle (EV) market and renewable energy adoption are driving unprecedented demand for battery metals like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. These materials are central to the cleantech transition, powering EVs, large-scale battery storage systems, and renewable energy technologies. As global EV sales are expected to surpass 20 million units in 2025, nickel demand alone...
READ MOREAlcoa, the largest aluminum producer in the United States, reported a net profit of $60 million for 2024, reversing a loss of $651 million from the previous year. The company attributed its improved performance to lower raw material and energy costs, alongside higher alumina and aluminum prices, though these gains were partially offset by increased...
READ MOREThe Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Oman signed two significant mining concession agreements today, aiming to enhance copper ore exploration and sea salt extraction. The first agreement, signed with Al Haditha Energy, grants rights to prospect and mine in Concession Area No. 22-B, located in North A’Sharqiyah Governorate. The agreement was inked by Eng....
READ MOREChina’s CMOC Group, the world’s largest cobalt miner, plans to sustain high production levels in 2025 following a record-breaking year in 2024. The company, which operates major mining projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has set a target to produce between 100,000 and 120,000 tons of cobalt this year. This comes after it achieved...
READ MOREThe global cobalt market in 2025 is expected to remain shaped by oversupply and evolving battery technologies. Prices, subdued since 2023 by excess supply, are projected to stay stable with minimal volatility. However, shifts in trade dynamics, technological advancements, and geopolitical factors continue to influence the market. Global cobalt demand is forecasted to grow substantially...
READ MORECentury Aluminum has entered Phase One of a four-phase agreement under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) grant initiative, first extended in March 2024. The project aims to strengthen domestic aluminum manufacturing capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and secure critical supply chains vital to national security and economic growth. In March 2024, Century was chosen...
READ MOREAn expert panel of senior civil servants, industry specialists, and media professionals has called for immediate policy measures to support domestic aluminium manufacturers and encourage investment in India’s aluminium industry. The discussion, organized by Bureaucrats India, focused on the challenges faced by the sector, including increasing import reliance and substandard aluminium flooding the domestic market....
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