London Metal Exchange copper has posted a 12% gain through the first half of 2025, outperformed only by volatile tin markets, as US President Donald Trump’s trade investigation launched in February created substantial price differentials between American and international markets. The CME copper contract currently trades at a $1,200 per metric ton premium over LME...
READ MOREPlatinum prices have climbed from below $900 per ounce in early April 2025 to nearly $1,400 per ounce by late June, marking a 50% increase and reaching the highest levels in almost a decade. The rally has lifted platinum mining stocks dramatically, with Impala Platinum gaining 75% year-to-date, Northam Platinum advancing 88%, and Sibanye-Stillwater jumping...
READ MOREFastmarkets, a London-based commodity intelligence firm specializing in metals and mining market analysis, forecasts that China will surpass Australia as the world’s largest lithium producer by 2026, marking a fundamental shift in global battery metal supply chains. Chinese mining operations are projected to extract 8,000-10,000 metric tonnes more lithium than Australian competitors next year, representing...
READ MOREThe International Copper Study Group, a global intergovernmental organization monitoring copper markets, reported that worldwide refined copper surplus declined marginally to 233,000 tonnes during the first four months of 2025 compared to 236,000 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2024. Global refined copper production increased 3.2% year-over-year to 9.4 million tonnes while consumption expanded 3.3%...
READ MOREThe Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CoMP) has warned that the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities are likely to heighten volatility in industrial metals markets, particularly nickel and copper, while prompting investors to seek refuge in gold. The assessment comes as global commodity and financial markets react to escalating geopolitical tensions in...
READ MORECopper prices edged lower in the immediate aftermath of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, defying expectations of a geopolitical risk premium for the industrial metal. Official trading data show both London and U.S. copper futures dipped by 0.1% to 0.3% in the first session following the attack, with benchmark contracts on the London Metal...
READ MOREChina imported 2.4 million metric tonnes of copper concentrate in May 2025, an 18% decline from April’s all-time high, according to customs data. Despite the sharp month-on-month drop, imports were up 5.8% compared to May 2024 and year-to-date volumes reached 12.4 million tonnes, a 7.4% increase over the same period last year. The data underscores...
READ MOREThe Indonesian government is launching a new drive to attract investment into its downstream copper sector, aiming to transform the nation from a primary processor into a manufacturer of high-value, secondary products for the global electronics and electric vehicle industries. An official from the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming confirmed that the government is preparing...
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 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 MOREGlobal 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 MOREGlobal nickel production overview Nickel plays a pivotal role in modern industry, especially as a key component in stainless steel and batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). In 2024, global nickel production was around 3.0 million metric tons, driven by demand from China and accelerating EV adoption. Indonesia leads the world in nickel output, accounting for...
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 MOREChinese copper smelters increased refined copper production to a record 1.25 million tons in March 2025, up 8.6% from the previous year, as rising prices for by-products like gold and sulphuric acid helped ease the pressure from negative processing margins. According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, this surpassed the previous monthly high of 1.24...
READ MOREThe Global Precious Metals MMI (Monthly Metals Index) posted an 8% month-over-month gain, reflecting a period of intense volatility for the U.S. precious metals market. Over the past five weeks, prices have been pulled in different directions by persistent inflation, shifting interest rate expectations, new tariffs, and escalating geopolitical risks. These forces have driven dramatic...
READ MOREIndonesia has enacted a new royalty framework for metal producers, linking levies to commodity prices in a bid to boost state revenue for key government initiatives. The updated rules were outlined in a regulation document issued on April 11 and take effect 15 days after registration. Under the changes, the previous fixed 10% royalty on...
READ MORECanada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced a series of relief measures aimed at easing the burden of countermeasure tariffs on Canadian businesses and institutions impacted by the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. One key initiative is a performance-based tariff remission framework for automakers. Companies that continue to manufacture vehicles in Canada will...
READ MOREGold prices rose on Tuesday, buoyed by investor uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and a declining dollar, as market participants continued to seek refuge in safe-haven assets. Spot gold increased 0.6% to $3,230.18 per ounce by mid-afternoon in New York, just shy of the record high of $3,245.42 set on Monday. U.S. gold futures settled...
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 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....
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