A potential conflict with China poses a significant threat to the U.S. military, particularly if Beijing decides to restrict exports of antimony—a key metal crucial to the American military’s arsenal. Antimony (Sb) is one of the best-performing commodities this year, and its restricted supply could jeopardize military readiness. Antimony miners in Western-friendly nations are currently...
READ MORESigma Lithium, a major lithium producer, reported strong operational progress for the third quarter, achieving its production target and maintaining some of the lowest cash unit operating costs in the lithium industry. During Q3, Sigma produced 60,237 tons of its Quintuple Zero Lithium Concentrate, a 22% increase from the previous quarter and slightly above its...
READ MOREChinese battery giant CATL has announced the development of its second-generation sodium-ion battery, set to launch in 2025. Speaking at the World Young Scientists Summit, CATL’s chief scientist Wu Kai unveiled the new battery, which aims to enhance performance, particularly in cold conditions, and provide an alternative to lithium-ion technology. CATL’s new sodium-ion battery will...
READ MOREAluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose on Tuesday, while prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) declined. The market is reacting to China’s recent announcement to remove a 13% export tax refund for certain aluminium products starting December 1. Three-month aluminium on the LME was up 0.6% at $2,623 per metric ton...
READ MOREIran produced 352,423 tons of aluminum ingots during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20 – October 21), according to data from the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). In the previous year, the country produced 367,091 tons of aluminum ingot over the same seven-month period....
READ MOREGold prices advanced on Monday after experiencing their steepest weekly drop since 2021, as the U.S. dollar eased and traders assessed the potential for Federal Reserve rate cuts given Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House next year. Spot gold climbed more than 1% to above $2,597 per ounce, following a loss of more...
READ MOREBHP Group’s Australia President, Geraldine Slattery, has warned that the nation can no longer rely solely on its traditional mining export markets and is unprepared to face a new era of lower-cost competitors. Speaking in Brisbane on Monday, Slattery highlighted that the boom in demand from China’s industrialization has now moved past its aggressive growth...
READ MOREPlans for the extraction of a key raw material used in electric vehicle production are under threat in Serbia as environmental protests grow. The Jadar Valley project, aimed at extracting 58,000 tons of lithium annually, has faced increasing opposition from local communities who fear environmental damage. Mining giant Rio Tinto is facing delays that could...
READ MORENew capacity for converting bauxite into alumina is expected to come online next year, potentially easing the current tight supplies and halting the record-breaking price rally of this key material used in aluminium production. Higher alumina prices outside China have turned the country, the world’s largest producer and consumer, into a net exporter this year...
READ MOREDue to the potential increase in U.S. trade tariffs following the incoming Trump administration and weaker-than-expected stimulus measures from China, demand for copper is likely to come under significant pressure. In response, Citigroup has lowered its short-term copper price forecast by 11%, anticipating that prices will fall from a previous forecast of $9,500 per ton...
READ MOREPort Said for Engineering Works, a subsidiary of the Suez Canal Authority, has announced plans to construct an $80 million aluminum foil factory in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) in partnership with an undisclosed Chinese investor, according to Al Borsa. The feasibility studies for the project have recently been approved, and construction is expected...
READ MOREIB2, a company in the aluminium industry, has received a €100 million investment from a group of financial and industrial investors to further develop its sustainable alumina technology. The funding will be used to enhance IB2’s process for producing more environmentally friendly alumina. The investment, obtained over the past 12 months, includes support from Glencore,...
READ MOREKorea Zinc Co.’s chairman, Choi Yun-beom, will step down from his role as the head of the board after canceling a planned $1.8 billion share sale. The decision is seen as an attempt to address concerns from the company’s largest shareholder amid an ongoing battle for control. The world’s largest refined zinc producer announced on...
READ MOREThe global silver market is expected to be in deficit for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report by the Silver Institute in collaboration with consulting firm Metals Focus. In 2024, worldwide silver consumption is projected to rise by approximately 1% year-on-year, reaching 1.21 billion ounces (about 37,500 tonnes). However, despite the overall increase...
READ MOREChinese copper smelters may cut production or extend maintenance periods next year to address ongoing feedstock shortages, as discussed by participants at an industry conference in Shanghai. The shortage of copper concentrate is leading to increased competition among smelters, with production cutbacks seen as a possible solution to alleviate the situation. Earlier this year, global...
READ MOREScientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), in collaboration with an international team, have successfully synthesized a new class of photocatalytic materials for hydrogen production from water molecules using electrospark erosion. This marks the first time such materials have been synthesized through this method, and the university emphasizes their potential in advancing ‘green’ energy solutions. The...
READ MOREFrom January to September 2024, China significantly increased its imports of copper concentrate from Russia, as reported by Vedomosti, citing data from the Main Customs Department of China. Over this period, imports of raw copper materials rose by 36% year-on-year, totaling 310,000 tons. Conversely, exports of finished copper products, including wire, profiles, sheets, tubes, and...
READ MOREPiedmont Lithium, a major North American lithium supplier, reported continued production growth in the third quarter of 2024, with measures in place to support its presence in the global lithium market. The company, based in Belmont, North Carolina, is advancing its key projects despite challenges in the lithium sector. In the third quarter, Piedmont, alongside...
READ MOREAurubis has commenced construction of an air separation plant (AS) at its recycling site in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. This investment of approximately €40 million aims to make on-site production operations more efficient and reduce dependence on external supplies. The new plant will use proven technology already employed at other major Aurubis sites, such as those...
READ MORENickel Asia Corporation (NAC) has reported a 30% decline in net income for the first nine months of 2024, mainly due to weaker nickel ore prices. The mining firm’s net income fell to PHP 2.55 billion (USD 45.1 million), down from PHP 3.65 billion (USD 64.5 million) during the same period last year. The company’s...
READ MOREAnalysts at VTB My Investments have revised their list of the top 10 shares of Russian companies, adding shares of Nornickel and excluding those of Polyus. According to the broker’s latest report, the current composition of the top list includes: Nornickel, Gazprom, Astra Group, Rusal, LUKOIL, ALROSA, Moscow Exchange, Headhunter, Yandex, and Sberbank. The decision...
READ MOREAluminium Bahrain (Alba) and Japan’s Daiki Aluminium Industry Company have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish a sustainable aluminium dross processing facility in Bahrain. The planned facility will have an annual production capacity exceeding 25,000 tonnes, aiming to support waste recycling and promote sustainable solutions within the country. Ali Al Baqali, CEO of...
READ MORENorsk Titanium has secured ongoing funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance its production capabilities for nickel superalloy components using its proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology. This funding aims to refine the manufacturing process for these components, which are widely used in the defense and oil and gas sectors for their...
READ MOREJubilee Metals has begun its 2025 financial year on a positive note, reporting strong operational results for the first quarter, driven by organic growth in its South African operations and key milestones in its Zambian copper expansion. The diversified metals miner highlighted increased production at its South African chrome and platinum group metals (PGM) mines,...
READ MORE
