Copper’s Next Move Depends On Washington

Six months after Operation Epic Fury upended the metals complex, the Strait of Hormuz still can’t decide if it’s open. Days after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, Iran’s military declared the strait closed again, only for Iran’s own foreign ministry to tell state media shipping was “operating normally.”  Under that same agreement, Washington has until July 19 to fully …

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Beijing opens lithium futures to foreign traders to cement pricing power over US

Miners, battery makers and traders outside China can now trade lithium carbonate futures and options on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. Beijing has unveiled new measures to keep its tight grip on lithium prices, in a move that may give it an edge over the US in the key material vital for electric vehicle and energy storage. Following mining endeavours worldwide …

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WGC: Gold to Hold Near US$4,100 in Second Half of 2026

The global gold price will remain rangebound around US$4,100 per ounce in the second half of 2026 under current conditions, according to the World Gold Council’s (WGC) mid-year outlook report. The projection follows a period of high price volatility for the yellow metal. Spot gold reached an intraday record high of US$5,589.38 per ounce in January 2026 before declining to a low of US$3,959.33 …

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Sprott Gold Miners vs Global X Silver Miners: Which Precious Metal Producer ETF Should You Buy?

Investors looking for exposure to the precious metals sector often choose between Global X – Silver Miners ETF (SIL+3.90%) and Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM+3.61%) to gain equity-based leverage on metal prices. A deeper look at the funds reveals significant differences in commodity focus and cost, with one tracking global silver while the other targeting North American gold producers. These funds serve as alternatives to holding …

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Brazil aims to lift global share of critical minerals output to 12.2% by 2050

Brazil will unveil its National Mining Plan 2050 on Thursday, setting a target to increase its share of global critical minerals production to 12.2% by that year, from 8.3% currently, said the Mines and Energy Ministry. The plan, drafted by the ministry, will be presented to the National Mining Policy Council but does not require that body’s approval. Other targets include cutting the average time for reviewing mining permits …

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Can Brazil become a key rare earth supplier for the West?

As Western governments seek to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supply chains, Brazil is emerging as one of the world’s most promising new sources of critical minerals. The country holds the world’s second-largest rare earth resource base and is home to a growing number of advanced ionic clay projects. At the same time, the recent G7 declaration on critical …

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Copper Price Outlook 2026, 2027: Why Goldman Sees Much Higher Prices Ahead

Copper prices have retreated this month alongside other industrial commodities, but Goldman Sachs remains firmly bullish, arguing that structural supply shortages will continue to support the market for years to come. Copper traded near $6.06/lb, down 8.9% over the past month, but still almost 18% higher than a year ago. Goldman Sachs believes the recent pullback does little to change …

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Signs of Divergence in the Platinum and Palladium Markets

There are signs of divergence in the platinum and palladium markets as investors remain bullish on platinum, while bearish sentiment appears to be taking control of the palladium market. Both platinum and palladium have given up a substantial percentage of their 2025 gains in the recent correction. Platinum is down 36 percent to around $1,600. Meanwhile, palladium has fallen 38 percent and is trading …

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Can the G7 Break China’s Grip on Rare Earths by 2030? 

The G7 has finally put a number on rare earth diversification. Its commitment to cut reliance on any single non-allied supplier below 60% by 2030 is more than another communiqué flourish, but the real test is whether announced projects can be built, commissioned, and operating at scale before the deadline arrives.  The capacity pipeline is promising, but the middle of the supply chain remains the choke …

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‘New oil’: US aims to create $2.5-billion critical minerals stockpile to counter China’s dominance

Resource competition: US Congress moves to challenge China’s critical minerals dominance. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to establish a $2.5-billion “Strategic Resilience Reserve” aimed at strengthening domestic supplies of critical minerals and rare earth elements. The move marks the latest effort to reduce US dependence on China for materials essential to defense, clean energy and advanced …

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