Copper’s tight supply and tariff risks set for a volatile 2026

(Image: MINING.COM) View: Source Copper’s record-breaking 2025 has set up a tight but fragile market heading into 2026 as supply strains deepen, tariff fears distort trade flows and analysts flag long-term deficits. With only a few trading days left in the year on the London Metal Exchange, copper is up nearly 40%, marking its largest annual gain since 2009. They surged past …

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Over 60% of critical minerals demand met through global trade: IEF

View: Source More than 60% of global critical mineral demands is met through international trade, underscoring the deep structural interdependence between producing and consuming economies as the deployment of clean energy accelerates, according to the International Energy Forum (IEF). This level of reliance on international trade, the group said, makes the world’s supply chains highly sensitive to geopolitical tensions, export controls, …

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Where is Copper Heading in 2026?

View: Source I asked if copper was setting a base for a new high in a November 18, 2025, Barchart article, where I concluded with the following: I expect copper prices to continue their upward trajectory as technical and fundamental factors support the red nonferrous metal. However, long copper exposure through the CPER ETF during price corrections has been optimal, and that …

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Lithium May Be a Metal Worth Watching Next Year

View: Source Plenty of attention from advisors and investors has been focused on gold, silver, and copper as of late, but those aren’t the only metals worth looking at. One metal that may be flying under the radar for many investors and advisors is lithium. The price of the metal has done particularly well, with lithium carbonate rising 25.73% year-to-date, as of …

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Kazakhstan, Japan Expand Strategic Collaboration Across Critical Minerals

Photo credit: Akorda View: Source President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official trip to Japan continued with a series of meetings with senior executives of leading Japanese corporations, resulting in new momentum for cooperation in critical minerals, industrial manufacturing, smart technologies, and workforce development. As part of his official visit, President Tokayev met with Ichiro Takahara, Chairman of the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy …

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Tungsten surges to 12-year high as world enters a new ‘black gold’ race

View: Source Global tungsten markets are experiencing one of the strongest upcycles in more than a decade. Market data as of December shows broad-based price increases across major tungsten products. The price of tungsten ore has climbed nearly 150 per cent since the start of the year, lifting tungsten prices to their highest levels since 2013. The primary catalyst behind the …

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Copper Prices Rise on Supply Concerns

View: Source Tight supply and resilient demand drive copper market despite economic headwinds Copper prices have increased as market participants focus on potential supply constraints in the coming year. According to ANZ, renewed disruptions and consistently strong demand are counteracting broader concerns surrounding the global economy. The bank observed that markets largely disregarded weaker-than-expected economic data from China, including a 1.3 …

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Ontario Launches $500M Fund Targeting Critical Mineral Processing Buildout

View: Source Ontario is putting $500M behind processing capacity, pairing it with $3.1B in Indigenous-focused financing tools to pull more value-added critical minerals work into the province. Ontario has launched a $500 million Critical Minerals Processing Fund to expand domestic processing capacity and strengthen the province’s end-to-end critical minerals supply chain. The CMPF, announced in the 2025 Budget, will support projects …

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Silver overtakes Google to become the 4th-largest asset by market cap

View: Source Increased investor demand and shifting economic trends have propelled silver past major tech players in overall global valuation. Key Takeaways Silver has overtaken Alphabet to become the fourth-largest asset in terms of market capitalization. Tightening inventories and strong demand from renewable energy, electric vehicles, and data centers are driving the rally. Silver has overtaken Alphabet, Google’s parent company, to …

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