A new Indonesian price policy has combined with supply chain issues caused by the Middle East crisis to reignite concerns that rising nickel costs will be a key driver of increased stainless steel prices. Three months ago, nickel prices spiked, peaking at USD18,725 per tonne on January 29. The LME spot daily cash price soared from a low of USD14,110 per …
Continue ReadingAn increase of 21.6 per cent in the aluminium price this year has been observed by the World Bank, in comparison to the previous year. The observation comes after the industry is currently grappling with tight supply, low inventory and a strong demand coming from the emerging industries. The projected price has been exceeding the market level for nearly two …
Continue ReadingA global commodity shock highlighted by the World Bank is poised to boost Indonesia’s key exports, particularly coal and nickel, as energy disruptions and strong demand lift prices across major commodities. In its April 2026 Commodity Markets Outlook, the World Bank forecasts global commodity prices will rise about 16% this year, driven largely by higher energy prices. “Average commodity prices …
Continue ReadingGold and copper are the two largest exposures in the £1.8bn BlackRock World Mining investment trust, with long-serving fund manager Evy Hambro saying the fundamentals of both assets remain strong, In the case of copper, for instance, there is fundamental demand for renewable energy and data centres. Hambro told FT Adviser: “Around 40 per cent of the assets are in …
Continue ReadingAluminium plays a crucial role in the transport, construction and packaging sectors. The global aluminium market is facing an unexpected supply disruption due to the conflict in the Middle East, potentially leading to significant shortages this year, according to Mercuria’s lead metals analyst, reported Reuters. The Middle East contributes approximately seven million tonnes (mt) of aluminium annually, representing around 9% …
Continue ReadingGold and silver have largely defied traditional safe-haven expectations during the 2026 Iran conflict, experiencing significant volatility and price declines rather than consistent rallies. Gold fell over 10% and silver over 20% in March 2026, often dropping when oil prices spiked as investors sold assets, including gold, for liquidity amid a stronger US dollar. Copper prices have remained resilient during the war, …
Continue ReadingThe global aluminum market is currently experiencing a significant “black swan” event due to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, said a top metal analyst. “The scale of the supply shock we’re seeing in the aluminum market is probably the largest single supply shock a base metals market has suffered in the post-2000 era,” Nick Snowdon, Mercuria’s head of metals and mining research, told Reuters …
Continue ReadingLithium carbonate prices have surged from their 2025 low of around 75,000 yuan per ton to top 180,000 yuan in the first quarter of 2026 — a gain of more than 100%. A lithium price slump that lasted more than two years is finally over. Yet the thaw isn’t triggering a universal rally across the industry; instead, it’s creating an …
Continue ReadingThe copper market’s been one of those setups where you can feel the tension building under the surface lately—prices have pulled back from those crazy January highs around $6.58. Still, since falling to $5.24, prices have held tough, slightly above the halfway point back to the January highs of $5.91 at $6.00, with decent volume from both specs and commercials. …
Continue ReadingIndustrial metals have jumped to a record high on the London Metal Exchange (LME), driven gains in aluminum after the Middle East war disrupted supplies, as well as a recent revival in copper. The LME Index, which tracks six major metals, has rallied by almost 12% over the past four weeks and was at an all-time peak on the close of April …
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