Chile’s copper production is projected to increase to 5.54 million metric tons (mt) by 2034, marking a 5.6% rise compared to 2023 levels, according to a report released by the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) on January 15. The forecast underscores Chile’s continued dominance as the world’s largest copper producer. Cochilco estimates that Chile’s share of...
READ MOREThe Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the Xunta de Galicia, U.S.-based multinational Alcoa, and energy company Ignis have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring the long-term future of the aluminum plant in San Cibrao, Lugo. The agreement signals a collective commitment to collaborate with the plant’s workers to stabilize operations and prioritize...
READ MOREChina’s aluminium production rose by 4.2% year-on-year to 3.77 million metric tons in December, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday. However, daily output in December averaged 121,612 tons, marking a 1.7% decline from November’s daily average of 123,667 tons, based on Reuters’ calculations. The increase in monthly production was...
READ MOREHeraeus Precious Metals has completed the acquisition of Umicore’s Platinum Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) business outside of South America. The move bolsters Heraeus’s position in the platinum API sector, enhancing its product offerings while maintaining a commitment to competitive pricing and high-quality standards. Effective immediately, the business will be integrated into Heraeus Precious Metals, the...
READ MOREChina’s imports of unwrought copper and copper products surged to a 13-month high in December, reaching 559,000 metric tons, a 17.8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to customs data released on Monday. This marks a 5.87% rise from November, attributed partly to sellers meeting remaining obligations under annual contracts. For the...
READ MOREACE Green Recycling, a US-based company, has signed a lease agreement to establish India’s largest battery recycling plant in Mundra, Gujarat. The new facility will expand on ACE’s existing Indian operations and is part of its strategic growth plans ahead of a proposed IPO through a merger with Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II, a special-purpose...
READ MOREChina’s aluminum production for December 2024 increased by 4.13% year-on-year (YoY), with cumulative production for the year up 3.89% YoY, according to statistics from SMM. Despite the annual growth, regional production cuts impacted specific areas due to high costs and technological transformations. In December, smelters in Sichuan and Guangxi reduced production. High alumina and electricity...
READ MOREThe London Metal Exchange (LME) has fully recovered from its 2022 nickel crisis, achieving its highest trading volumes since 2015 and the fourth largest on record. Average daily volumes reached 664,698 lots in 2024, an 18.2% increase from 2023, with nickel trading jumping 58.8% year-on-year to levels last seen in 2021 before the market meltdown....
READ MOREThe Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has raised its stake in Northam Platinum to 20%, reinforcing its commitment to the long-term prospects of platinum group metals (PGMs). This follows the PIC’s move last year to increase its holding in Sibanye-Stillwater to 15%, as the asset manager continues to back the green economy potential of PGMs, particularly...
READ MOREMining firm MMG Ltd has announced that operations at its Dugald River zinc mine in Queensland, Australia, are expected to resume following the containment of a nearby grassfire. The fire, which approached the perimeter of the site, has been successfully managed, allowing the company to proceed with normal operations later in the day. MMG, which...
READ MOREThe Singapore-based Abaxx Commodities Exchange is set to introduce the first physically deliverable lithium carbonate futures contract outside China, company executives announced. The move follows the recent launch of its nickel sulphate futures, marking another milestone in its battery metals product lineup. The new lithium carbonate contract addresses a gap in the market, as current...
READ MOREChina is evaluating new export restrictions on technologies essential to lithium-ion battery production, a move that could have significant implications for the global electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy industries. According to a report from Caixin, the Ministry of Commerce has proposed adding battery cathode production technologies, as well as methods for extracting and processing...
READ MOREResearchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created nanostructured surfaces that exhibit strong antibacterial properties while allowing healthy cells to grow unimpeded. The findings, published in the journal Langmuir, could have significant implications for regenerative medicine and laboratory applications. The scientists utilized anodic porous aluminum oxide, created through electrochemical processes in concentrated sulfuric acid. When polished...
READ MOREMarket analyst BMI has maintained its zinc price forecast for 2025 at $2,650 per tonne, citing weaker supply and demand dynamics. Zinc prices began the year at $2,888 per tonne but are projected to drop by 5.8% compared to the 2024 average of $2,812 per tonne. Tightening market fundamentals, including a shortage in zinc concentrate,...
READ MOREAnglo American Platinum (ANGPY) has emerged as a standout player in the global platinum-group metals (PGM) mining industry. Despite market volatility and a downturn in PGM prices, the company has consistently maintained profitability, distinguishing itself from competitors. ANGPY holds the largest PGM mineral resources worldwide, operates cost-efficient facilities, and has demonstrated prudent management in navigating...
READ MORELithium prices are forecasted to stabilize in 2025 after two years of sharp declines driven by a global oversupply. A nearly 86% drop in prices since their peak in November 2022 forced the closure of numerous mines worldwide. However, analysts and traders anticipate that strong electric vehicle (EV) sales in China and reductions in lithium...
READ MOREChina Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. has released its 2025 production guidance and confirmed that operations at the Jiama Copper-Gold Polymetallic Mine remain unaffected following the January 7 earthquake in Tibet Autonomous Region. The company forecasts copper production at the Jiama Mine to range between 139 million pounds (63,000 tonnes) and 148 million pounds (67,000...
READ MOREChinese nickel producer GEM has completed its annual 30,000-ton high-nickel ternary precursor material project for power batteries in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The project, named PT Indonesia Qingmei Energy Materials (Qingmei), is part of the company’s broader strategy to support the growing demand for battery materials. GEM has also announced plans to expand the facility’s capacity...
READ MORERecent industry reports paint a cautious outlook for the lithium market in 2025, with concerns about persistent oversupply keeping prices under pressure. Goldman Sachs maintains its conservative stance, highlighting a continued supply surplus despite strong demand growth driven by the electric vehicle (EV) market and renewable energy storage solutions. Lithium prices have plummeted over the...
READ MORETreatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) for copper concentrate are expected to remain low throughout 2025 due to a tightening global supply, according to a new report by Fastmarkets. Analyst Andrew Cole forecasts the annual average spot TC at $10.7 per tonne for 2025, with monthly averages potentially reaching $20 per tonne by the end of...
READ MOREIran’s copper cathode production grew by 3.2% during the first nine months of the Iranian calendar year (March 20 to December 21, 2024), reaching 216,732 tons compared to 209,956 tons in the same period last year. The data, released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), highlights the increasing output...
READ MOREFirst Atlantic Nickel has completed the acquisition of mining licence 038152M, securing 100% ownership of 12 mineral claims in central Newfoundland. These claims, known as the RPM South claims, are located directly south of the RPM Zone within the company’s 30-kilometer nickel trend at the Atlantic Nickel Project. The acquisition allows for expanded exploration and...
READ MOREUK-based clean technology group Altilium has entered into a partnership with major chemicals company Helm AG, through its UK subsidiary LevertonHelm Ltd, to establish a domestic lithium supply chain. The collaboration aims to reduce the UK’s dependence on imported raw materials by integrating Altilium’s expertise in recycling battery materials with LevertonHelm’s advanced lithium production capabilities....
READ MOREUkraine saw a significant rise in aluminium trade in 2024, with imports and exports both showing strong growth despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, aluminium and aluminium product imports increased by 21.7% year-on-year, totaling US$446.006 million, including US$36.943 million in December alone. Exports also rose, climbing 27.4% year-on-year to...
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