Base metals on the London Metal Exchange broadly closed down in the afternoon on Friday December 20, once more capped by a stronger US dollar index, trading up 0.29% at 97.69 this afternoon, ignoring better-than-expected economic indicators from China.China's CB Leading index, an economic leading indicator intended to forecast future economic activity, was up three percentage points month on month...Read More

Fastmarkets' copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RC) index rose for the second straight week on Friday December 20, with the spot market firming slightly after cargoes from Dongying Fangyuan and some other smelters were diverted, leading to higher availability.The spot copper concentrates TC/RC index, cif Asia Pacific, was at $51.80 per tonne/5.18 cents per lb on December 20, up...Read More

An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More

Stocks of most base metals, except copper and tin, stored in Shanghai Futures Exchange-approved warehouses declined in the week to Friday December 20.Aluminium registered the biggest week-on-week decline in deliverable stocks, down by 24,547 tonnes or 11.2% to 193,820 tonnes.A total of 5,170 tonnes left the Zhongchu Wuxi warehouse...Read More

The benchmark alumina price will remain steady around $280 per tonne at the end of the week despite Hydro's announcement late on Thursday December 19 that it has reduced production at its Alunorte alumina refinery to 50-70% capacity, market sources told Fastmarkets. Hydro reduced production at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil on Thursday after a fallen transmission tower cut power to the produ...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were capped by a stronger US dollar, which traded up 0.03% at 97.43 during the morning session on Friday December 20, having absorbed any residual optimism from China's liquidity boost on Thursday. "Selling pressure has remained somewhat subdued this month," Fastmarkets research analyst Andy Farida said. The LME three-month copper price dipped below...Read More

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified mining company Anglo American has announced a $13.5-million agreement with First Mode to develop innovative technology for the mining industry.First Mode, of Seattle, which has been working with Anglo to develop the world’s biggest hydrogen fuel cell haul truck for Anglo American Platinum in Limpopo, will be supporting projects across...Read More

The spot main Japanese port (MJP) aluminium premium is likely to remain under pressure next year due to growing supply and weak demand amid a decline in global automobile sales, market participants told Fastmarkets.The premium, which is paid over the London Metal Exchange cash price, currently serves as the benchmark for most of the aluminium traded in Asia.Fastmarkets has been assessing the alumi...Read More

Access our research platformsSign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research, our latest insight, data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts.Perhaps a false sense of security had crept in. Plentiful oil supply, carefully stewarded in 2019 by OPEC+ to get the market closer to balance, and moderate prices. Rising geopolitical tension,even around Iran, seemed a nebulous...Read More

Canadian company Lucara Diamond Corp, which operates the Karowe mine, in Botswana, has had stronger-than-expected finish to the year, with the final tender "reflecting a more stabilised market environment".Lucara generated sales proceeds of $52.9-million in the final tender held on December 12, achieving an average price of $548/ct. The sales proceeds exceeded expectations by 16%.Adverti...Read More

Indian domestic secondary billet prices rose by 1,400 rupees ($20) per tonne in the week ending December 20 on the rising cost of directly reduced iron (DRI), the main raw material used by Indian secondary billet makers.The price of steel billet domestic, ex-works India was assessed by Fastmarkets on December 20 increased by 1,400 rupees per tonne to 27,400-27,600 rupees per tonne compar...Read More

Diamond miner Alrosa, Chinese multinational Tencent and independent technology company Everledger have launched a new WeChat Mini Program e-commerce solution to Chinese retailers.This demonstrates the power of blockchain technology to seamless enable the purchase with full transparency of their origin, characteristics and ownership, a statement this week said.AdvertisementCreated by Alrosa and Eve...Read More

The Polish domestic rebar price picked up slightly over the week and producers are targeting further price rises, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday December 20.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, ex-works Poland narrowed on the top end of the range to 2,000-2,030 zloty ($522-530) per tonne on Friday, compared with 1,980-2,030...Read More

Indian steelmakers are likely to increase domestic HRC prices by at least 2,000 rupees ($28) per tonne in January, following on from an increase in export prices, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday December 20.But the mills will not be attempting further prices increase in the remaining days of December.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HRC, domestic ex-works India,&nbs...Read More

The CIS export billet market was rather quiet in the week ended Friday December 20, reflecting the approaching holiday period.Offers from CIS mills remained around $420 per tonne fob Black Sea, with some mills starting to offer February casting material.Buying activity has slowed compared with previous weeks because customers in major markets have already purchased the necessary volumes to meet th...Read More

Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resources"The land (held by state-controlled Gécamines) includes multiple blocks over the preferred location for construction of a new long-term tailings facility, and multiple other blocks that will enhance KCC's ability to more efficiently operate its mines, facilities and other key infrastructure requirements," Glencore-contr...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe have been largely stable day on day on Friday December 20, following a substantial increase over the week, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index domestic, ex-works Northern Europe was at ?,?439.39 ($488.79) per tonne on Friday December 20 compared with ?,?439.24 per tonne on Thursday.The calculation of the ind...Read More

Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resourcesSouth32 owns 11.7% of Trilogy and has contributed US$30 million over three years to exploration, and had until January 20 to decide if it wanted to expand its interest.Read More

Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resourcesThe copper is in the pre-filter press feed tank and will be sent to the concentrate press over the coming days, ending the company's 10-year dependence on its Prominent Hill copper-gold mine as its sole source of income.  Artemis all set thanks to unique approachSPONSOREDartemis resourcesIt aims to produce 20,000-25,000 t...Read More

Turkish prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG), and color-coated coil or pre-painted galvanized iron (PPGI), were stable in the week to Friday December 20 amid moderate demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Domestic pricesDemand in Turkey's local market slowed this week ahead of the year-end because buyers had already placed their orders earlier in December, sources said.Most producers have filled...Read More