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.
- Magnesium prices
- Manganese prices
- Silicon prices
- Titanium prices
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.
Sign up nowLatest specialty and minor metals news
Browse the latest market moving news on the specialty and minor metals industry.
Nyrstar’s Australian lead, zinc smelters assess future
Nyrstar’s Australian lead, zinc smelters assess future
Sydney, 1 May (Argus) — Metals firm Nyrstar may close or curtail output at two smelters in the south of Australia if a second phase of transitional funding is not agreed with Canberra and state governments. The 160,000 t/yr lead smelter at Port Pirie in South Australia state and the 280,000 t/yr Hobart zinc smelter in Tasmania received A$135mn ($97mn) in interim rescue funding in August last year , but a concrete solution is yet to be found, Nyrstar said on 1 May. The comments from Nyrstar, which is owned by commodity trading firm Trafigura, came after the first round of assistance expired yesterday. Workers have been told that, without a second phase of the funding plan having been agreed, Nyrstar is now exploring all options for the uneconomic facilities — which are partway through two-year feasibility studies to diversify output — by processing critical minerals such as bismuth and tellurium. Argus understands that no decision has yet been made on closures or cutting output, as happened at Hobart last year when market conditions for zinc deteriorated. Capital expenditure and operational costs are likely to be in line for any cuts as part of the review. The first shipment of antimony, a venture agreed under last year's first-phase agreement, was exported from the Port Pirie pilot plant in February, which Nyrstar said could produce 2,000 t/yr by the end of this year . Australia aims to maintain current industrial capability under its Future Made in Australia policy , which the Labor government says will leverage renewable energy to export low-carbon goods including metals. A series of deals have been cut with processors in recent months including aluminium and copper manufacturers facing closure due to low commodity prices and higher energy costs. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mexico’s economy stagnates in 1Q
Mexico’s economy stagnates in 1Q
Mexico City, 30 April (Argus) — Mexico's economy expanded a minimal 0.1pc in the first quarter of 2026, as solid expansion in the services sector was offset by contraction in the industrial and agriculture sectors. Annual growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter was well below the upwardly revised 1.8pc growth recorded for the fourth quarter,statistics agency Inegi reported. It followed 0.1pc contractions in the second and third quarters of 2025, the first quarterly contractions since the first quarter of 2021. Industrial sector output, which includes manufacturing, construction and mining, contracted 1.3pc after posting 0.4pc expansion in the fourth quarter of 2025. The services sector expanded 0.7pc, after marking 2.2pc growth in the previous quarter. The primary sector, which includes agriculture, fishing, mining and hydrocarbon extraction, contracted 0.1pc in the first quarter, following revised 7.2pc growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. The annualized first-quarter result was below the 0.3pc growth estimated by Mexican banks Banamex and Banorte. Banorte is forecasting the economy will accelerate in the second quarter, on World Cup matches scheduled in Mexico for June and July and a resumption of federal spending on key infrastructure projects. The bank will also closely track trade talks in the runup to the USMCA free trade agreement renewal set for July with a positive outcome seen as likely, but the bank's views reflect comments from economy minister Marcelo Ebrard and US trade representative Jamieson Greer last week that zero tariffs are unlikely to remain part of the treaty. "We believe negotiations will conclude with some technical adjustments within a 12–18 month timeframe," said Banorte. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US economy grows by 2pc in first quarter
US economy grows by 2pc in first quarter
Houston, 30 April (Argus) — The US economy grew at an annual rate of 2pc in the first quarter, led by government spending and investments in the artificial intelligence (AI) buildup. Growth in gross domestic product (GDP), in the first of three estimates, followed seasonally adjusted annual growth of 0.5pc in the fourth quarter of 2025, during the 43-day federal government shutdown, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported Thursday. GDP growth averaged 2pc in 2025. Economists surveyed by Trading Economics had forecast 2.3pc growth for the first quarter. "The big picture is that growth already was sluggish ahead of the energy shock, with the economy's underlying momentum anemic outside the continued surge in AI-related capex," Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a note. Growth in the first quarter reflected upturns in government spending, exports and investment that were partly offset by a deceleration in consumer spending. Consumer spending rose by 1.6pc in the first quarter following growth of 1.9pc in the fourth quarter. Spending on private investment rose by 8.7pc following 2.3pc growth in the fourth quarter. Spending on equipment rose by 17.2pc and spending on intellectual property products rose by 13pc, both parts of the AI buildout. Residential investment spending fell by 8pc, reflecting the ongoing slump in housing construction. "Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace," Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday in his last press conference as head of the central bank. In the near term, higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East will push up overall inflation, he said. "Beyond that, the scope and duration of potential effects on the economy remain unclear," Powell said. Net exports weighed on GDP growth, with exports rising by 12.9pc, while imports, which subtract from growth, rose by 21.4pc. Federal government spending rose by 9.3pc in the first quarter after falling by 16.6pc in the fourth quarter on the government shutdown. Defense spending grew by 20.3pc in the first quarter after falling by 24pc in the fourth quarter. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Export curbs on the rise as governments seek revenue
Export curbs on the rise as governments seek revenue
London, 30 April (Argus) — Export restrictions on critical raw materials — particularly for ores and concentrates — are tightening rapidly worldwide, as governments place greater store in their value as a strategic revenue source, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). There has been a five-fold increase in such restrictions since 2009, OECD research published on 29 April shows, covering significant shares of global supply — up to 70pc of cobalt and manganese exports, 47pc of graphite and 45pc of rare earth elements. Export taxes and licensing requirements remain the most common instruments. But more restrictive measures — such as export bans and quotas — are increasingly common, accounting for over a third of new measures in 2024. Levies on raw materials are particularly important for developing economies with limited alternative revenue streams. Since the early 2010s, these measures had formed part of industrial policy goals, such as securing domestic supply, promoting value addition and supporting downstream sectors. But in 2024, revenue generation drove nearly half of new restrictions — a notable shift. Export restrictions in 2024 were being imposed by a more diverse group of countries than in previous years, especially in Africa and Asia. But five countries — China, India, Argentina, Vietnam and Burundi — account for over half of all new measures introduced since 2009. This shift towards revenue generation has important implications for global supply and market stability, the OECD has warned. By tightening supply and raising price volatility, restrictions risk amplifying market concentration and distortions. International co-operation remains key to boosting investment and ensuring stable, diversified supply, the OECD research concludes. By Cristina Belda Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Copper’s Volatile New Landscape
Strait of Hormuz: How Sulphur is Impacting the Copperbelt
Argus expands titanium coverage into high-end aerospace market
Explore our specialty and minor metals products
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.