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 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 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 MOREChina’s copper imports from the United States fell sharply in March 2025, dropping 1.9 times to $204.8 million—the lowest level for bilateral trade since April 2023 and significantly below last year’s monthly average of $371.9 million, according to Chinese customs data. The decline comes amid escalating tariffs and shifting trade flows, with Chinese smelters and...
READ MOREThe U.S.-China trade war has intensified, with the Trump administration imposing a sweeping 104% tariff on Chinese goods. This escalation comes after Beijing refused to remove retaliatory levies on U.S. exports, prompting fears of further disruptions in global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. China dominates the global production...
READ MOREThe South Korean government has formally requested that the United States exempt its copper products from potential import tariffs under the ongoing Section 232 investigation into copper imports. The investigation, initiated on February 25, 2025, by an executive order from President Donald Trump, aims to evaluate whether copper imports pose a threat to U.S. national...
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 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 MOREThe global rare earth metals market faces significant disruption following Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on imports, including critical minerals from China. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 54%, have raised alarms about supply chain vulnerabilities for rare earth elements, which are essential for industries such as electronics, renewable energy, and defense. China dominates...
READ MOREChina has unveiled a comprehensive plan to enhance the quality and sustainability of its aluminum industry by 2027, setting ambitious targets for resource security, green transformation, and technological innovation. The plan, spearheaded by ten government departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), arrives as the nation’s aluminum production capacity nears its government-imposed...
READ MOREIn 2024, the European Union experienced a significant trade imbalance in aluminium and related articles, importing €29.5 billion while exporting €18.4 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €11.1 billion. Compared to 2019, aluminium imports increased by 29.9% (+€6.8 billion) and exports rose by 21.3% (+€3.2 billion). This surge in trade value occurred despite a...
READ MOREPresident Donald Trump has directed the secretary of commerce to investigate national security risks posed by the United States’ increasing dependence on imported copper. The probe may lead to policy measures aimed at securing domestic copper supply, though experts warn that meeting demand without relying on imports poses a significant challenge. The U.S. Geological Survey...
READ MOREKorea’s domestic aluminum flat product prices saw an increase for March deliveries as Choil Aluminum and Novelis Korea raised their prices by 90,000 won per ton. Export prices also rose by $80 per ton, following gains in London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminum prices, which climbed from $2,574.95 per ton in January to $2,653.38 per ton...
READ MOREChina has called on the United States to halt its investigation into potential new tariffs on copper imports, warning of retaliatory measures if Chinese entities are affected. The statement came after President Donald Trump directed the Commerce Department to launch a national security probe into copper imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act...
READ MOREPresident Donald Trump has announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to sign an agreement with the United States that would provide valuable minerals in exchange for potential additional military aid. The deal comes as Ukraine enters the fourth year of its conflict with Russia and seeks to maintain U.S. support as a key...
READ MOREAluminum producer Alcoa has cautioned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on aluminum imports could lead to the loss of approximately 100,000 jobs in the United States. The company also stated that the tariff alone would not be sufficient to prompt it to increase production at its U.S. facilities. Trump announced earlier this...
READ MOREHydro-Extrusions North America, the largest aluminum product manufacturer in the U.S., is closely monitoring the proposed 25% tariff on imported aluminum announced by the Trump administration. The tariff, set to take effect on March 12, would increase from the current 10% rate. Hydro’s Cressona, Pennsylvania plant, which imports 85% of its raw aluminum from Canada,...
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 MOREChina’s exports of refined copper wire with a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 6mm reached 6,303.98 metric tonnes (mt) in November 2024, marking a 26% month-on-month (MoM) increase and a 68.3% year-on-year (YoY) rise. Cumulatively, from January to November 2024, exports totaled 57,600 mt under HS code 74081100. The rebound in copper wire rod exports during...
READ MOREAccording to data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, primary aluminium imports into China fell by 13.8% in November 2024 compared to October. However, on an annual basis, imports rose by 22.5%. The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SMM) reported that China imported 150.7 thousand tonnes of primary aluminium in November,...
READ MOREChina’s imports of zinc concentrate reached 455.9 thousand tonnes in November 2024, marking a 37.73% month-on-month increase and a 45.01% rise compared to the same period last year. From January to November, total zinc concentrate imports amounted to 3.6398 million tonnes, reflecting a 14.98% year-on-year decline. In November, the top suppliers of zinc concentrate to...
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