The West’s New Critical Minerals Playbook

BJP7images/Shutterstock View: Source China has long dominated the critical minerals supply chain, with an already large share in mining of many minerals but a particular chokehold further downstream — it refines between 47% and 87% of copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency. These minerals are used in defense technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy components, batteries and refining …

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Nickel hits nine-month high as Indonesia cuts back to boost prices

Nickel is still among this year’s weaker performers on the London Metal Exchange. Credit: TheWest View: Source Nickel has hit the highest since March after top producer Indonesia flagged plans to cut supply in order to boost prices. Nickel rose as much as 4.7 per cent to $US16,560 a tonne on the LME, extending a rally that tracked other metals from mid-December. After …

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Copper Set for Biggest Annual Gain Since 2009 on Supply Bets

Photographer: Lauren Petracca/Bloomberg View: Source Copper headed for its biggest annual gain since 2009, fueled by near-term supply tightness and bets that demand for the metal key in electrification will outpace production. The red metal has notched a series of all-time highs in an end-of-year surge, rallying over 40% on the London Metal Exchange this year. That makes it, along with …

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