Zinc and tin futures prices on the London Metal Exchange reached new year-to-date peaks on Tuesday May 18, with the dollar index at its lowest since late February and recent developments in Latin America boosting other base metals prices as well. Zinc's three-month price reached $3,108.50 per tonne on Tuesday during early trading, the most since June 15, 2018. It was also up 1.4% at the 5pm close...Read More
German steelmaker Salzgitter has started construction on a demonstration plant for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI) as part of its Salzgitter Low-CO2Steelmaking project, known as Salcos, the company said on Monday May 17. The plant will be supplied by equipment manufacturer Tenova, and is the first iron ore direct reduction plant designed to operate flexibly with natural gas and hydroge...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.The steady climb in copper prices since mid-2020 – and the more recent launch into the stratosphere – puts me in mind of Senator Gracchus in the film Gladiator. Specifically, his observation that fear and wonderment is a p...Read More
A summary of the first-quarter 2021 performance report for the Ramu Nickel-Cobalt integrated operation in Papua New Guinea, released on Tuesday May 18 by Canada's Nickel 28, which holds an 8.56% joint-venture interest in the project.In brief High cobalt and London Metal Exchange nickel prices, combined with stronger demand for mixed hydroxide product (MHP), positively impacted cash generation...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.We enter 2021 with many mined commodity prices riding high after recovering from a dramatic pandemic-induced slump in H1 2020. But far from marking a new atmosphere of positivity, the new year brings new questions. How will Chinese po...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.As the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic began to bite, many observers confidently predicted that the end was nigh for global economic activity. Governments around the world closed their economies as the only tool available to li...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.The U.S has increased tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods to 25%, from 10%, impacting a number of metals. Commentary below comes from the Wood Mackenzie metals team:Copper By Wood Mackenzie Senior Consultant, Yanting Zhou"Previous...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.Read More
RAPAPORT... A 204.36-carat, fancy-intense-yellow diamond with a high estimate of $5.5 million is set to lead the New York sale at Christie's next month.The cushion modified brilliant-cut, VVS2-clarity stone, called The Dancing Sun, is the largest polished diamond originating in North America, having been cut from a 552.74-carat rough unearthed at the Diavik mine in Canada, Christie's said last wee...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has seen a rise in submissions of lab-grown diamonds with counterfeit inscriptions that make the stones appear natural.Clients using the GIA's update or verification services are increasingly sending in goods that prove to be synthetic, the organization said Monday. These stones have falsified girdle engravings that reference a genuine na...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.The coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on every part of the global economic system. In response, unprecedented stimulus measures have boosted many countries’ debt-to-GDP ratios to levels not seen since WWII. But even...Read More
Blockchain technology platform MineHub and digital trade finance network Contour have partnered to integrate their digital metals, mining-focused supply chain, and trade finance technology, the companies said. The partnership will enable trades on MineHub to flow into the Contour network, where a digital letter of credit (LC) can be created, replacing the traditional paper-based process. This impr...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.Back before coronavirus knocked “normal” out cold, the key issues for miners were sub-investment prices, rising requirements for ESG and decarbonisation. How things change. So while our base case view is that the recession...Read More
RAPAPORT... Rio Tinto will unveil a record number of diamonds over one carat at its final pink-diamond tender, including the largest fancy-intense pink it has ever offered for sale.The 3.47-carat stone, known as the Argyle Eclipse, will headline the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, which has run since 1984. The tender comprises 70 rare polished colored diamonds originating from the Australian mine, Ri...Read More
The United States plans to "make up for lost time" in the battle against climate change by developing new technologies and investing in the products that will drive the transition to a global, low-carbon economy, according to the country's Treasury chief, Janet Yellen.Speaking in a keynote speech at the US Chamber's inaugural global forum on economic recovery, the Secretary to the Treasury said th...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.On Friday 15th February 2019, Vale announced there was a fire affecting a conveyor belt system at its distribution centre in Malaysia. Vale anticipate this will result in a 10 to 15 day halt in operations and note that a planned 10 da...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.Genscape is now part of Wood Mackenzie. As we combine their commodity intelligence and proprietary short-term data sets with Wood Mackenzie’s world-class long-term analysis, we will be able to offer you unparalleled depth and br...Read More
RAPAPORT... Forevermark will change its name to De Beers Forevermark, enabling the retail brand to capitalize on the miner's reputation and sustainability efforts, a spokesperson confirmed to Rapaport News last week."Creating a stronger association between the De Beers name and Forevermark will deliver benefits for Forevermark partners and customers alike, by providing a deeper connection to...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A record-breaking 204.36-carat fancy intense yellow diamond is to be auctioned by Christie's New York, with a high estimate of $5.5m.The Dancing Sun (pictured) is the largest polished diamond produced in North America since the first mine opened there 30 years ago. It has been graded by GIA as natural color, VVS2 clarity, excellent polish and symmetry.It was cut from the...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The final collection of pink and other rare diamonds from the iconic Argyle mine is to be sold, with bids closing on 1 September.It marks the end of an Tera for the deposit in the in the remote east Kimberley region of Western Australia, which has provided the overwhelming majority of pink diamonds globally since 1982.Seventy diamonds with a combined weight of 81.63 carats will be...Read More