Base metals
Overview
From vehicle lightweighting to increased demand for copper to wire our connected world, base metals are used widely in manufacturing industrial and consumer products, and demand is only going to increase. Base metals are the most connected to the futures market already so what does even more demand mean for commodity investments?
Argus provides base metals premiums in the most active trading regions around the world, in addition to data from the world’s metals exchanges on a real-time (additional fees apply) or 30-minute delay basis.
Base metals coverage
Argus delivers price data on over 300 base metals through the LME, CME and COMEX, as well as proprietary assessments. Our market news and analysis spans copper, aluminium, nickel, lead, tin, zinc and other base metals crucial to commercial and industrial enterprises.
Track premiums in the most active trade regions and use our daily analysis to better understand the link between the physical and paper markets to better navigate futures, options and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Investors that do take positions on the financial markets can use Argus tools to highlight arbitrage opportunities and receive alerts when prices reach upper and lower threshold limits on their contracts of interest.
Highlights of Argus global base metals coverage
- Value-added exchange data tools offer a deeper level of insight to the standard exchange feed windows (calculated derived cash, global view of all exchanges on a single screen, threshold alerts).
- Full suite of non-ferrous scrap prices can be analysed to detect correlations or leading indicators for base metals prices.
- Currency and unit of measure conversions allow easy comparison of exchange data in different regions of the world to identify arbitrage opportunities.
- Base metals workspaces facilitate an holistic view of each individual market’s performance.
Latest base metals news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global base metals industry.
Elkem launches review into silicones division
Elkem launches review into silicones division
London, 23 January (Argus) — Norwegian ferro-alloy and silicon producer Elkem has launched a review of its silicones division with the target of streamlining the business in a challenging market environment, and to reallocate capital to its silicon products and carbon solutions divisions. Elkem is an integrated producer in the silicones industry, ranging from silicon metal to upstream siloxane to downstream silicone specialities, but overcapacities in China and weak consumer markets present a challenging environment in which to operate. Elkem operates nine silicone production sites across Europe, Asia, the US and Brazil with key sites in France and China. The company invested 4.4bn Norwegian kroner ($390mn) across it Chinese and French operations to raise overall capacity by 140,000 t/yr in 2024. The improvements in China were completed in May last year, while the project in France was scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter. The silicones division reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of NKr145mn in January-September 2024, rising from a loss of NKr672mn in 2023. The recovery was attributed to operational efficiencies and utilisation, higher volumes and the ramp-up of new capacity. Elkem has appointed Norwegian bank ABG Sundal Collier to advise. Details on the timeline of the review were not disclosed. Elkem is due to report fourth-quarter results on 12 February. By Samuel Wood Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
MP Materials commences NdPr, NdFeB production
MP Materials commences NdPr, NdFeB production
Houston, 22 January (Argus) — US rare earth magnet producer MP Materials began commercial production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) and trial production of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) at its Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. MP expects to produce approximately 1,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of NdFeB magnets at the facility with a gradual production increase beginning in late 2025. MP will deliver finished magnets to General Motors and other manufacturers. In 2020, China accounted for about 90pc of related metal refining and 92pc of global NdFeB magnet and magnet alloy manufacturing. US consumption of NdFeB magnets is forecast to more than double to 37,000t in 2030 from 16,100t in 2020 and more than quadruple to 68,600t in 2050, according to a Department of Energy study from 2022. By Cole Sullivan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Zambian copper production rises 12pc in 2024
Zambian copper production rises 12pc in 2024
London, 22 January (Argus) — Total copper production in Zambia rose in 2024 as production resumed at key mines, Zambian mines and minerals minister Paul Kabuswe said today. Copper output reached 820,676t in 2024, up by 12pc compared with 2023. Zambia aims to produce 3mn t/yr of copper by 2031. Production increased despite a drought that limited hydroelectric energy supplies to the mining sector at the end of 2024. The growth was driven by resumed operations at the Mopani underground copper mine, after International Resources Holding, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, bought a 51pc stake in the mine. And output resumed at the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), which was the subject of an ownership battle between the Zambian government and UK-based Vedanta Resources. The government handed over KCM to Vedanta, which plans to spend $1.3bn over the next five years to revive production. Canada-based mining company Barrick's Lumwana copper mine began development of its super pit in October, which will double its copper production to 240,000 t/yr on completion. And KoBold Metals, a mining and artificial intelligence firm backed by US investors, expects to invest $2bn in a new copper project in Zambia, Kabuswe said. By Ellanee Kruck Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s Nissan to build LFP battery plants in Kyushu
Japan’s Nissan to build LFP battery plants in Kyushu
Tokyo, 22 January (Argus) — Japanese automobile manufacture Nissan will build new lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery plants in Kyushu, in line with its electrification strategy, the company announced today. Nissan plans to start building the new facilities during the April 2025-March 2026 fiscal year, before starting mass production in 2028-29, according to the firm. Nissan did not disclose the production capacity of the new plants, but it is expected to be around 5 GWh/yr, according to the country's ministry of trade and industry (Meti). Meti will provide a maximum subsidy of ¥56bn ($359mn) for Nissan's investment in the LFP plants, which should account for around one-third of the total investment amount. Building the new LFP plants is part of Nissan's wider battery strategy to secure 135 GWh/yr of global production capacity by 2030-31, with its facilities in Japan expected to total 10 GWh/yr of production capacity. A breakdown by battery type, LFP or lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM), is not available. Nissan has been the country's leading electric vehicle (EVs) manufacturer, but it is struggling to make profits partly because of weak EV demand. The company's net profit slumped by 94pc on the year to ¥19.2bn in April-September. This prompted it to cut global car production capacity, including for EVs, by 20pc to around 4mn units/yr. Nissan in December 2024 started merger negotiations with fellow manufacturer Honda, aiming to collaborate on the electrification of automobiles. But Honda suggested that Nissan's financial situation could cause the proposed merger to be scrapped. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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