Specialty and minor metals
Overview
As demand for semi-conductors, touch-screens and other highly engineered products continues to grow, manufactures rely on the Argus metals price data and reliable market intelligence to track volatility and specialty materials and manage their impact on production costs.
Argus covers electronic, light and high-temperature metals, as well as specialist alloys and rare earths, through Argus Non-Ferrous Markets, Argus Battery Materials and the Argus Rare Earths Analytics service.
Electronic metals
Argus delivers transparent price data, market news and analysis across base metals, minor metals and battery materials to allow downstream participants to achieve a sustainable supply of electronic metals and reduce their exposure to price risk, all while researching and tracking individual materials in their components.
- Arsenic prices
- Bismuth prices
- Gallium prices
- Germanium prices
- Indium prices
- Selenium prices
- Tantalum prices
- Tellurium prices
- Zirconium prices
Light metals
Argus is the leader in light metals price data and serves the most active consuming regions globally in aerospace, automotive and other highly engineered industries. Manufacturers of alloyed materials and light metals benefit from both primary and scrap material coverage in the Argus suite of products.
High-temperature metals
Some materials necessitate higher temperature and corrosion resistance beyond that offered by carbon steel, these often rely on a proprietary blend of alloyed materials. Argus worked closely with manufacturers to develop the Alloy Calculator tool, a one-stop solution for estimating the current value of raw materials in their specific composition to price even the most specific blends of alloys to be priced in primary and scrap form.
- Chromium prices
- Cobalt prices
- Hafnium prices
- Molybdenum prices
- Niobium prices
- Rhenium prices
- Tantalum prices
- Tungsten prices
- Tungsten outlooks
- Vanadium prices
Highlights of specialty metals coverage
- Independent reference prices for highly illiquid markets and niche materials
- Brings transparency to markets with few global suppliers but increasing global demand
- Exchange data with 30-minute delay standard and the option to add real-time
- Twice weekly global bulk alloys, noble alloys and steel feedstock prices
- Comprehensive global electronic metals price assessments
- High-temperature metals price assessments, including full scope of tungsten coverage with optional short and long-term forecasting
- Light metals including a suite of titanium and aerospace-grade price assessments
- Rare earths prices assessments with short and long-term forecasts
- Electronic vehicle and aerospace raw materials coverage, including highly engineered components and structural materials
- Coverage of supply chain issues, including demand, capacity, risks to responsible sourcing and supply
- Alloy Calculator tool allows easy identification of cost implications for material substitutions in any alloyed metals
- Synthetic prices can be created in the Alloy Calculator to provide material value in the absence of spot market assessments
Stay ahead of the non-ferrous metal markets
To be informed of relevant content, sign up to Argus Non-Ferrous Metal Market Highlights. Each newsletter issue provides key prices, selected news, downloadable insight papers, podcasts, and on-demand videos across the global non-ferrous markets. Our coverage spans technology and minor metals, rare earths, ferro-alloys, and base metals, enabling you to fully explore the non-ferrous metal supply chains.
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Australia loads more lithium in Nov on stronger prices
Australia loads more lithium in Nov on stronger prices
Singapore, 3 December (Argus) — Australian lithium loading tonnage edged up in November against October, according to data compiled by Argus , likely hitting the second-highest monthly volume this year on the back of stronger spodumene prices. Total bulk lithium shipments out of Australian ports were estimated around 402,300t in November, higher than a relatively weak October that followed a record level in September , according to data from vessel tracking firm Kpler compiled by Argus . The vast majority of the shipments are likely spodumene. China is historically Australia's primary spodumene consumer. Bunbury port and Port Hedland were estimated to have loaded near 155,700t and 122,000t of lithium, up by 21pc and 2.5pc on the month, respectively. Lithium producers such as PLS, Mineral Resources (MinRes), Covalent Lithium as well as the country's Greenbushes mine — run by Australian mining group IGO alongside major Chinese firm Tianqi Lithium and US-based producer Albemarle — transport their spodumene to the two ports for export. Australian lithium producer Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley project sits near the Geraldton port, which was estimated to have shipped out more than 44,500t of lithium in November. Esperance port loaded about 61,400t of lithium, up by 87pc on the month. MinRes' Mount Marion operation, which is 50pc-owned by major Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng, sends its spodumene to Esperance for export. The Port of Fremantle shipped out more than 18,600t of lithium, according to Kpler data. As of 3 December, Australian ports are expected to load at least 271,400t of lithium in the month, the latest Kpler data show. This suggests a potentially stronger December loading volume, given the comparatively lower figure reported in early November. Argus -assessed prices for 6pc grade lithium concentrate (spodumene) rose from $920–980/t cif China on 4 November to $1,170–1,235/t on 2 December. Chinese salt plants were active in securing sufficient feedstock for the first quarter of 2026 and were in no hurry to finalise spodumene prices despite price uptrend. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Glencore to restart S African FeCr smelter in February
Glencore to restart S African FeCr smelter in February
London, 2 December (Argus) — Switzerland-based mining company Glencore plans to restart operations at its 720,000 t/yr South African Lion ferro-chrome smelter in February, the company told Argus on Tuesday. The Lion smelter will be Glencore and its local partner Merafe's sole operational ferro-chrome smelter in South Africa, after Merafe confirmed its plans on Tuesday to put the Boshoek and Wonderkop ferro-chrome smelters on care and maintenance from 1 January. The venture suspended operations at all three ferro-chrome smelters earlier this year, citing weak demand from the European steel industry, competition from lower-priced Chinese ferro-chrome and high electricity costs in South Africa. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has set out an electricity tariff realignment programme to ease pressure on industrial power users, but these reforms are yet to be finalised despite being the most pressing requirement for the viability of the venture's ferro-chrome operations, Merafe said. South African utility Eskom proposed an electricity tariff arrangement to Merafe last week after the closures were announced, but Merafe said this did not provide a sustainable solution for the long-term viability of the Boshoek and Wonderkop smelters. Merafe issued retrenchment notices to between 1,200 and 1,400 workers, which will become binding on 9 December if a solution is not reached with the South African government. Up to 300,000 direct and indirect jobs could be at risk at South African smelters and other related heavy industries from December to early 2026 after an inconclusive mediation process with the government, Labour union Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann warned last week . The country's other main ferro-chrome producer, Samancor Chrome, has told the union that up to 2,500 jobs are at risk from downsizing and closure procedures at its operations next year. By Gian Remnant Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EGA signs Al decarbonisation agreements
EGA signs Al decarbonisation agreements
London, 27 November (Argus) — Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced a series of agreements with local utility companies and investors to decarbonise its aluminium production and expand renewable and clean energy development in Abu Dhabi, it said today. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) and investment firm Dubal Holding will acquire EGA's Al Taweelah power and water assets for $1.9bn, while also signing a power purchase agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) for the Al Taweelah gas-fired power plant until 2049. Taqa Transmission will also acquire EGA's electricity transmission assets. EGA has signed Abu Dhabi's largest-ever electricity supply agreements with Ewec and Taqa Distribution for the supply of power over the next 24 years, with the share of renewable and clean energy increasing over that time as Ewec's solar electricity generation projects come on line. EGA is planning to "vastly increase" the production of its CelestiAL brand of aluminium produced using solar aluminium and its MinimAL brand of aluminium produced using nuclear power to almost half of its total primary aluminium output by the end of 2028, depending on market demand. "This initiative is one of the largest decarbonisation projects ever in the global aluminium industry," EGA chief executive Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said. "For our global customers, it significantly increases the availability of low-carbon ‘premium aluminium', strengthening the role of our metal as an essential material to make modern life possible." By Jethro Wookey Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India approves $815mn rare earth magnets scheme
India approves $815mn rare earth magnets scheme
Mumbai, 27 November (Argus) — The government of India has approved a Rs72.8bn ($815mn) scheme to promote the manufacturing of sintered rare earth permanent magnets (REPMs) to increase self reliance in advanced magnet technology, it announced on 26 November. The initiative aims to establish 6,000 t/yr of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity through five companies selected by competitive bidding. The scheme includes Rs64.5bn in sales-linked incentives over five years and a Rs7.5bn capital subsidy for establishing facilities. Each company will be allotted up to 1,200 t/yr of production capacity, and the scheme will run for seven years, including a two-year setup period. The scheme focuses on building capability in advanced production stages currently lacking in India, including converting rare earth oxide to metal, metal to alloy, and alloy to finished magnets. This initiative aims to strengthen supply chains, create jobs, support industrial growth, and contribute to India's goal to achieve net zero by 2070. REPMs are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and defence. India's REPMs consumption is expected to double by 2030 from 2025 levels, but the country currently relies heavily on imports despite having rare earth reserves. By Deepika Singh Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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