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Latest Market News

LME nickel prices fall on expectations of higher supply

  • Spanish Market: Metals
  • 06/08/26

London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel prices dipped below $17,000/t in Asian trading hours today, pressured by market expectations that Indonesian nickel ore supply could increase.

There were expectations that the nickel mining quota (RKAB) for a major Indonesian nickel operation has more than trebled from its initial allocation at the start of the year. The details remain unconfirmed, but the news fuelled expectations of higher nickel supply in 2026, weighing on market sentiment and prices.

The LME three-month nickel price on LMEselect, LME's electronic trading platform, and interoffice telephone market fell to $16,760/t as of 09:21 UTC, down by $369/t from the closing price of $17,114/t on 5 August.

Indonesia set the 2026 nickel RKAB quota at 260mn-270mn wet metric tonnes (wmt) in February and is expected to review the figure in the third quarter. Mining companies were allowed to submit revision applications by 31 July. The ministry of energy and mineral resources (ESDM) has indicated that any increase is unlikely to be significant and that additional allocations would mainly be directed towards smelters facing ore shortages.

Although uncertainty remains over the final quota level, most market participants had expected only a modest increase of around 10pc, which would raise the 2026 RKAB quota to about 290mn-300mn wmt.

But the potentially substantial increase for one mine has raised concerns that the broader quota revision could be larger than expected, boosting supply and putting further pressure on prices.

Earlier this week, there was also market discussions of the possibility that additional RKAB allocations would favour companies paying higher royalties. Indonesia's energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia said firms contributing larger royalty payments would receive priority because policy decisions should deliver the greatest benefit to the state and the public, according to state news agency Antara.

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06/08/26

EU slaps 5.6-28pc AD duties on CRC imports

EU slaps 5.6-28pc AD duties on CRC imports

London, 6 August (Argus) — The EU is set to introduce anti-dumping (AD) duties on cold-rolled coil (CRC) steel ranging from 5.6-28pc on imports from India, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam, a document obtained by Argus shows ( see table ). No date is given for the implementation of the duties, with the measures expected to come into effect once they have been published in the EU's official journal. The probe into dumping began just under a year ago after European steel association Eurofer lodged a complaint, claiming that dumped CRC imports were detrimental to the EU steel industry. The period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 was examined. "Conclusions show that there were no compelling reasons that it was not in the Union's interest to impose measures on imports of CRC originating from the countries concerned," the document said. The EU started monitoring CRC imports in early December, leading market participants to believe that retroactive duties could be imposed, although the EU eventually decided against this. The European CRC market has been on an upward trajectory ever since the announcement of the AD investigation — mills have leveraged uncertainty and supply disruptions to hike prices. European CRC production capacity is limited after years of relying on imported material, with mills focusing production on more profitable hot-dipped galvanised material. This, coupled with the introduction of new stringent import measures that have cut CRC free allocation, has created a tight market environment, with buyers now seemingly at the mercy of European mills. Offers were last heard around €840/t ex-works in the northwest cold-rolled coil market, with some market participants projecting €900/t ex-works as a new potential target for mills in the coming months. By Carlo Da Cas EU CRC anti-dumping duties Country Company Dumping margin Injury margin Definitive anti-dumping duty India JSW Steel; JSW Steel Coated Products 9.5% 25.5% 9.5% Other co-operating companies (see annex) 9.5% 25.5% 9.5% All other imports originating in India 9.5% 25.5% 9.5% Japan Nippon Steel; Daido Steel 56.0% 28.0% 28.0% Other co-operating companies (see annex) 56.0% 28.0% 28.0% All other imports originating in Japan 56.0% 28.0% 28.0% Taiwan China Steel; Chung Hung Steel 36.5% 20.7% 20.7% Other co0operating companies (see annex) 36.5% 20.7% 20.7% All other imports originating in Taiwan 59.6% 27.0% 27.0% Turkey Borcelik Celik Sanayi Ticaret 9.7% 12.9% 9.7% Tatmetal Celik Sanayi ve Ticaret 5.6% 17.7% 5.6% Other co-operating companies (see annex) 7.3% 16.3% 7.3% All other imports originating in Turkey 9.7% 17.7% 9.7% Vietnam Posco Vietnam 16.0% 25.8% 16.0% Other co-operating companies (see annex) 16.0% 25.8% 16.0% All other imports originating in Vietnam 16.0% 25.8% 16.0% — EC Annex Country Company India Tata Steel Japan JFE Steel Proterial Taiwan Synn Industrial Turkey Erdemir Group: — Eregli Demir ve Celik Fab — Erdemir Celik Servis Merkezi San. ve Tic Atakas Celik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi Yıldız Entegre Agac Sanayi ve Ticaret Gazi Metal Mamulleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Vietnam China Steel and Nippon Steel Joint Stock Hoa Sen Group Jont Stock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Aerolloy Technologies to supply Ti castings to Airbus

06/08/26
06/08/26

Aerolloy Technologies to supply Ti castings to Airbus

London, 6 August (Argus) — India's Aerolloy Technologies has signed an agreement to develop and supply titanium castings to European airframer Airbus. Aerolloy — a wholly owned subsidiary of PTC Industries — will produce titanium castings for Airbus' A320neo narrowbody jet and its A330neo and A350 widebody aircraft. The castings will be fully machined and ready to fit. The agreement establishes a pathway to serial production, subject to Airbus' qualification and programme requirements. Casting provides a near net-shape product, resulting in lower scrap material generated during machining to yield a finished part. PTC did not disclose the titanium grade, component type or volume of castings, and had not responded to Argus' request for details by publication. In March 2025, Aerolloy signed an agreement with France's Safran Aircraft Engines for supply of cast engine components for CFM Leap-1A and 1B engines. The 1A variant is an engine option for the A320neo. By Samuel Wood Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Critical minerals to boost Brazil's GDP: AmCham

05/08/26
05/08/26

Critical minerals to boost Brazil's GDP: AmCham

Sao Paulo, 5 August (Argus) — Brazil's critical minerals industry could add up to R192bn ($37bn) to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2050, according to the US chamber of commerce (AmCham) for Brazil. AmCham Brazil, the largest overseas US-centered business association in the world, published on 4 August a study about the potential economic gains that the critical minerals industry could bring to Brazil's GDP. For that, it considered two scenarios. In the first scenario, investment would come mainly from domestic capital and critical minerals output would remain focused on exports of lower value-added products — such as spodumene ore and rare earths carbonates — with zero to no domestic downstream integration. This case would focus on increasing critical minerals production by 2050, requiring R104.8bn in investments. The added output would lift Brazil's GDP by 1.1pc, translating into a R128.6bn rise, and create 304,000 jobs. The second scenario assumes greater foreign investment, expanded mineral processing in Brazil and growing use of higher value-added critical minerals products by the domestic industry. The necessary investments to support this expansion are R120.8bn, but returns could increase Brazil's GDP by 1.6pc, or R192bn by 2050, while also creating 750,000 jobs. Vertically integrating Brazil's critical minerals industry would bring R63.4bn in GDP gains, while also boosting domestic consumption of higher value-added critical minerals products by R32.3bn, according to AmCham. The study's result aligns with Brazil president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's push to vertically integrate the critical minerals industry in Brazil, despite skepticism from the industry towards the feasibility of adding downstream plants to the country without substantial federal grants. Production increases expected AmCham also expects Brazil's critical minerals output to increase across the board, including the addition of cobalt output, which is currently non-existent in the country. AmCham expects Brazil's copper, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths output to consistently grow by 2050, with rare earths and graphite experiencing the sharpest growth spurts. Brazil has the world's second-largest rare earths reserves but minimal production. AmCham expects Brazil's rare earths output to rise from 20 metric tonnes (t) in 2024 to 12,800t in 2050, a 28pc compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Graphite is also expected to increase, going from 68,000t to roughly 1.6mn t, a 12.9 CAGR. By Pedro Consoli Brazil's critical minerals production projections metric tonnes Mineral 2024 output 2050 proj. output 2024-2050 CAGR (%) Copper 527,000 894,000 2.1 Graphite 68,000 1,600,000 12.9 Lithium 10,000 133,000 10.5 Nickel 77,000 117,200 1.6 Cobalt 0 17,400 na Rare earths 20 12,800 28.2 AmCham drew its figures from 2025 studies by Brazil's international relations (CEBRI), mining technology (CETEM), and mineral (IBRAM) institutes. AmCham Brazil Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US auto sales slow in July from 2026 high

05/08/26
05/08/26

US auto sales slow in July from 2026 high

Houston, 5 August (Argus) — US automotive sales in July slipped after reaching their highest level this year in June, as consumers tempered purchases but continued to spend in the face of renewed inflationary pressures after the US and Iran resumed hostilities. Sales of light vehicles, which are pickup trucks and cars, fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.3mn units in July, down from an upwardly revised 16.6mn in June, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Tuesday. Last month's total represented a 1.8pc decrease from July 2025's annualized rate of 16.6mn. Buyers — primarily affluent ones — continued to spend in July, buoyed by continuous gains in equity markets that have increased household wealth. Still, affordability concerns linger with fuel prices rising again after the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East broke down and markets still expecting the US Federal Reserve to raise its target interest rate this year, which would raise borrowing costs. Average US retail gasoline prices ended the week of 3 August at $4.079/USG, representing an 8pc increase from the week ended 6 July, the latest US Energy Information Administration data shows. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange's FedWatch tool is showing a 53pc probability of a quarter-point rate hike at the Fed's September meeting, as policymakers seek to reel in inflation that remains nearly double their 2pc target. Sales of pickup trucks in July fell by 1.8pc to a 13.6mn annual unit rate on the month, while car sales ticked up by 0.6pc to a 2.7mn unit rate in the same period. US vehicle production in June increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.68mn units, rising from an upwardly revised 10.41mn in May, the latest Fed data shows. Auto assemblies are reported with a one-month lag to sales. By Alex Nicoll Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Eramet to expand Argentina lithium operations

05/08/26
05/08/26

Eramet to expand Argentina lithium operations

Sao Paulo, 5 August (Argus) — French mining and metallurgy company Eramet has begun studies to support an expansion of its Centenario-Ratones lithium project in Argentina's Salta province. Eramet plans to add 11,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of lithium carbonate equivalent to Centenario, bringing total capacity to 35,000t/yr. The project, which recently reached 90pc of its original designed capacity of 24,000t/yr, is ran by a subsidiary of the company called Eramine Sudamérica. The French company plans to invest $350mn in the expansion, which will be the first of a series of capacity additions to Centenario. Eramet plans for the project to yield 150,000t/yr when all expansions are concluded over several years. Eramet also plans to file a Rigi application to support the project, a government program that provides investment incentives, global chief executive Christel Bories told Salta's provincial government, which announced the news. Rigi grants benefits to approved participants, including exemptions from value-added and import–export taxes, as well as legal protections that allow companies to settle disputes in courts outside Argentina. It also guarantees 30 years of legal stability, ensuring that the benefits cannot be revoked by any future president during that period. There is no public timeline for the expansions or the Rigi application. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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