Special

December 3, 2024

Metals Market Update: November 25 – 29

High Alumina Prices Put Rusal Under Severe Pressure Rusal has announced plans to reduce primary aluminium output by 250,000 tonnes (or 6% of its annual production) due to the rapid increase in alumina prices, which have been outpacing aluminium prices on stock exchanges. The company is forced to buy more than a third of its…
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November 25, 2024

Metals Market Update: November 18 – 22

Boliden Looks to Acquire Two Zinc Mines Swedish metallurgical company Boliden is in negotiations with Lundin Mining to acquire two zinc mines: Zinkgruvan in Sweden and Neves-Corvo in Portugal. Last year, Zinkgruvan produced 76,349 tonnes of ore (in terms of pure zinc), while Neves-Corvo produced 108,812 tonnes. For Lundin Mining, the sale aligns with its…
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November 18, 2024

Events, Trends and Forecasts: 11– 15 November

Oman to Become a Major Copper Exporter by 2027 The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mazoon Copper project, a copper ore mining and beneficiation facility, has taken place in Oman, with Minerals Development Oman as the investor. The general contractor is the Canadian firm Lycopodium, which will provide all the necessary engineering, procurement, and construction…
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Nickel

December 9, 2024

Copper, Aluminum, and Nickel Prices Edge Higher Amid Market Uncertainty

The London Metal Exchange (LME) saw refined copper closing at $9,068 per ton, up $4 or 0.04% on the official three-month goods price basis. Despite ongoing concerns about China’s economic outlook, copper prices remained above the $9,000 mark, buoyed by hopes for government stimulus measures. LME copper stock levels, excluding canceled warrants, continued their 12-day…
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December 4, 2024

Vale Completes Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion to Boost Nickel Production

Vale Metais Básicos has completed the construction and commissioning of the $2.94 billion Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion Project in northern Labrador, Canada. The expansion marks a significant milestone, increasing nickel in concentrate production to 45,000 tons per year (ktpa), alongside 20 ktpa of copper and 2.6 ktpa of cobalt. This development is seen as crucial…
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Platinum

December 2, 2024

Platinum Market Faces Deficit as Supply Struggles to Meet Demand

Despite persistent challenges with platinum prices, the precious metal market is seeing support as the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) predicts a market deficit in both 2024 and 2025. Edward Sterk, WPIC’s director of research, highlighted that while demand for platinum remains steady, supply has struggled to keep up, a trend that looks set to…
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November 29, 2024

Anglo American Sells Stake in Platinum Subsidiary Ahead of Planned Demerger

British mining group Anglo American has sold shares of Anglo American Platinum, valued at 9.6 billion South African rand (approximately 500 million euros), as part of preparations for a complete demerger of the South African platinum producer. The sale, announced on Wednesday, involved 17.5 million shares, representing 6.6% of Anglo American Platinum’s issued capital, at…
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November 28, 2024

Global Platinum Supply Set to Decline Amid Continued Restructuring

The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) has forecast a two percent decline in mined platinum supply for 2025, as producers continue to restructure operations in response to challenging market conditions. In its third-quarter supply and demand report, WPIC projected a third consecutive annual supply deficit for the metal in 2025. Newly mined platinum production is…
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Palladium

December 5, 2024

Australia’s Largest Palladium Discovery Made Using AI Technology

Earth AI, a clean energy metals exploration company, and its partner Legacy Minerals announced the discovery of what could be Australia’s largest palladium deposit. The discovery, named Fontenoy, is located in Warmbath on the southwestern slopes of New South Wales, within the mineral-rich Lachlan Fold Belt. Earth AI reported the identification of a two-square-kilometer mineralized…
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October 31, 2024

Top Platinum-Group Metal Producers of 2023: South Africa, Russia, and Beyond

Platinum-group metals (PGMs) include platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other metals prized for their durability, resistance to corrosion, and excellent catalytic properties. The automotive industry is the largest consumer of these metals, using them primarily in catalytic converters for vehicle exhaust systems. With a rebound and continued growth in auto production projected, particularly in developing markets,…
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October 25, 2024

Palladium Prices Surge on Threat of New Anti-Russian Sanctions

The price of palladium on the world market has surged to $1,170 per troy ounce for the first time in ten months, driven by concerns over potential new sanctions on Russian exports. On October 24, the price jumped by more than 10% in a single day, outpacing other precious metals and reflecting market fears about…
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