Geopolitical tensions keep aluminium prices volatile, while long-term demand outlook remains firm

For much of 2026, aluminium prices have been driven more by geopolitics than by underlying demand. As tensions between the US and Iran intensified, fears of disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz pushed LME aluminium higher, with prices rising to around a four-year high and reaching an intraday peak above USD 3,700 per tonne. The ceasefire eased those concerns, …

Continue Reading

China lithium prices hit five-month low on expectations of oversupply in 2027

China‘s lithium futures prices sank to a five-month low on Tuesday on expectations of oversupply of the electric vehicle battery metal in 2027, even as near-term demand remained strong, according to analysts. The most active lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange hit its lowest since February 10 at 136 800 yuan ($20 216.95) a ton, before erasing some losses to trade down …

Continue Reading

US dollar loosens grip on central bank reserves worldwide as gold takes over

ECB data shows gold now tops US Treasuries in reserves as dollar holdings gradually ease. The US dollar remains the world’s dominant currency for trade and finance. Yet central banks are steadily buying more gold and reducing the share of dollar assets in their reserve portfolios. Here’s what the latest data shows — and why it matters. The US dollar …

Continue Reading

Copper price rises as key China gauge hits one-year high, Chile output losses mount

Copper climbed on Monday as fresh evidence of physical tightness in China and a growing tally of weather-hit output in Chile outweighed jitters over the US-Iran conflict. Comex copper for September delivery rose 1.3% to $6.35 a pound (just under $14,000 a tonne) by early afternoon in New York, bringing the red metal within 5% of the record set in early …

Continue Reading

Australia should narrow its critical-minerals focus – starting with antimony

Australia needs to talk less about critical-mineral supply chains and more about specific minerals. Generic discussions about supply-chain resilience have become a substitute for strategic thinking. They encourage governments to speak in broad concepts while avoiding harder questions about where vulnerabilities actually sit. Supply chains don’t fail in theory but rather in specific minerals, facilities, ports and processing plants. Antimony …

Continue Reading

Gold Purchases Accelerate as Dollar Confidence Wanes

Central banks are scaling back on the dollar as institutional bullion buying climbs to record highs. In the World Gold Council’s (WGC) latest annual survey of central banks, 83% of respondents expect to increase their gold holdings over the next year. That’s up from 76% in 2025. This surge in demand is due to the U.S. dollar’s waning preeminence in global reserves …

Continue Reading

AI emerges as new driver of rare earth demand: Sprott

Artificial intelligence is emerging as an unexpected new source of demand for rare earth elements, adding to military and clean-energy consumption just as Western governments pour billions of dollars into rebuilding supply chains outside China, according to Sprott Asset Management. AI has joined defence and electrification as a third structural driver of rare earth demand, with the world’s five largest hyperscale …

Continue Reading

Bank of America Now Sees Platinum Hitting $3,000 an Ounce by Q4 2026

Bank of America’s $3,000 platinum call only makes sense if you look past the headline metal trade. The real story is a market where thin inventories, China jewelry demand and carmaker substitution are doing more work than investor fashion. Nobody’s talking about platinum the way they talk about gold. That’s sort of the point. Gold gets the central bank story. …

Continue Reading

Nickel projects worth US$1.8 billion in Brazil gain momentum

Two major nickel projects in Brazil, with combined investments that could reach almost US$1.8 billion, have gained extra momentum amid optimistic expectations in the sector. The Australian miner Centaurus Metals has secured access to power for its US$380 million nickel project in the Brazilian state of Pará. The company received approval from the National Electric System Operator (ONS) to connect its main …

Continue Reading

China’s rare earth export curbs may hit $6.5tn in global production

The full implementation of China’s curbs on rare earth exports could jeopardise $6.5 trillion in downstream production outside the country, potentially crippling several industries across continents, the International Energy Agency has warned. The automotive, high-tech, defence and energy sectors are among the most vulnerable parts of the global economy that could take a hit from Chinese export restrictions, the IEA said in its latest Critical …

Continue Reading