Metals
Overview
Argus delivers trusted price data and market intelligence to help you understand the drivers behind primary and secondary metal markets. Our service differentiates with in-depth market commentary, analysis and news on ferrous and non-ferrous metals at the heart of commercial trade and industrial manufacturing.
The global metals supply chain uses Argus metals commodity data as a reference in physical supply and derivative contracts, for mark-to-market purposes, as a value indicator for tax assessments, for risk management, and in strategic analysis and planning.
Argus delivers four core products within its metals portfolio: Argus Ferrous Markets, Argus Non-Ferrous Markets, Argus Scrap Markets and Argus Battery Materials. Each offering includes access to Argus Metals – your definitive metals platform.
Metals market coverage
Argus is a leading independent provider of market intelligence to the global energy and commodity markets. Our price assessments and market intelligence are available for all major metals markets across the globe. Explore the coverage most relevant to your business:
Latest metals news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global metals industry.
Thailand woos Chinese EV investment, secures Chery
Thailand woos Chinese EV investment, secures Chery
Singapore, 23 April (Argus) — Chinese state-owned auto producer Chery Automobile will build an electric vehicle (EV) factory in Thailand after more than two years of discussions with Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI), which has secured multiple other EV-related investment. Chery will build a plant in Rayong province with a first phase capacity of 50,000 unit/yr of battery and hybrid EVs, which is scheduled to begin production in 2025, BOI said on 22 April. The plant's capacity is expected to be expanded to 80,000 unit/yr by 2028 in a second phase. Chery's project has also been approved by BOI for the country's investment promotion. Thailand's investment promotion strategy grants successful projects tax and non-tax incentives. BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi this month met executives from seven Chinese battery manufacturing firms, including Gotion High-tech, China Aviation Lithium Battery and the world's largest battery producer CATL. Two major manufacturers are expected to invest in cell-level battery production in Thailand this year, which will each come with 6-10 GWh of capacity in their first phase and with a combined investment value of over 30bn baht ($810mn). All the firms were interested in Thailand's incentives for EV battery manufacturers , said Narit. "I believe that in two years Thailand will have a large-scale battery cell factory. This will be another milestone to strengthen the supply chain and the long-term foundation of the electric vehicle industry in Thailand," said Narit. Thailand aims to attract Bt1 trillion of investment for its future automobile industry by 2030 as it seeks to become a future mobility hub, Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin said in February. The country has since secured Bt240bn of investment from Japanese car producer Isuzu . Thailand last year also secured Bt9.8bn of investment from Chinese major auto manufacturer Changan Automobile , similarly after two years of discussions. Thailand's EV registrations in 2023 more than quadrupled from a year earlier to nearly 90,000 units, reaching a 10pc vehicle sales share that is comparable to the US, according to the IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024 . By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Hydro invests in metal recycling plant at Hoyanger
Hydro invests in metal recycling plant at Hoyanger
London, 22 April (Argus) — Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro has invested 240mn kroner ($21.8mn) in a new recycling facility alongside its primary aluminium smelter in Hoyanger, Norway. The recycling plant will process 36,000 t/yr of post-consumer aluminium scrap, as Hydro moves towards its 2030 target of reducing its emissions by 30pc compared with 2018 levels. The new facility will process scrap metal from vehicles, building facades, furniture, packaging and other consumer goods, which will be mixed with primary metal made with renewable hydropower at the Hoyanger plant. Among Hydro's low-carbon aluminium products is the Circal brand of aluminium, which is made with 75pc recycled content, and the Reduxa brand, which is made with renewable energy and generates emissions of less than 4kg CO2/kg aluminium produced. They are key to the company's emission reduction targets and ultimately reaching net zero by 2050. "Recycling is the fastest way to zero. With this new facility, we deliver on our strategy to increase recycling capacity in our efforts to decarbonise our own production processes and make products that the world needs for the green transition," the executive vice-president of Hydro's aluminium metal business, Eivind Kallevik, said. By Jethro Wookey Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Baltimore opens third temporary shipping channel
Baltimore opens third temporary shipping channel
New York, 22 April (Argus) — A third temporary shipping channel has opened at the Port of Baltimore to allow more vessel traffic around the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Located on the northeast side of the main channel, the new passage has a controlling depth of 20-ft, a 300-ft horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 135-ft. When combined with two other temporary channels opened earlier this month the port should be able to handle "... approximately 15 percent of pre-collapse commercial activity," said David O'Connell, the federal on-scene coordinator. The main shipping channel of the Port of Baltimore — a key conduit for US vehicle imports and coal exports — is expected to be reopened by the end of May, the Maryland Port Administration said earlier this month. The bridge collapsed into the water late last month when the 116,851dwt container ship Dali lost power and crashed into one of its support columns. Salvage teams have been working ever since to remove debris from the water and containers from the ship in order to clear the main channel. By Stephen Cunningham Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
China's Lopal starts first Indonesian LFP battery plant
China's Lopal starts first Indonesian LFP battery plant
Beijing, 22 April (Argus) — Major Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) producer Jiangsu Lopal Tech has launched production at the first phase of its Indonesia-based LFP production plant. The Indonesian plant is the first overseas LFP battery material production project with over 10,000 t/yr capacity that a Chinese company has invested in, Lopal said. Lopal's subsidiary Changzhou Liyuan New Energy Technology started building the first phase of the project in July last year, with a 30,000 t/yr output capacity for LFP battery material. The line started pilot production in March. The plant is located in the Kendal Industrial Park in Indonesia's Central Java province. The whole project has a designed capacity of 120,000 t/yr, with the second phase of 90,000 t/yr likely to start construction in the second half of this year. This project marks a milestone in China's investment in overseas battery feedstock resources, according to market participants. Most Indonesian projects that Chinese firms invest in are for primary materials or intermediates such as lithium salts, graphite, nickel matte, mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) and ferro-nickel including nickel pig iron. Lopal has been accelerating its investment in lithium-ion battery material production in the past few years. It is also building a 50,000 t/yr production line for LFP and a 100,000 t/yr plant for iron phosphate in the Shandong Heze Juancheng industrial park, in which another 80,000 t/yr iron phosphate project is located. Changzhou Liyuan on 18 April released its newly-developed 4th generation high compaction LFP cathode material S501, with 2.65g/cm³ of compaction. This has increased the battery's energy density and power load, said the company. LFP has taken up a bigger market share in the power battery market because of its lower manufacturing costs and safer performance. But one of its main disadvantages is shorter driving ranges on electric vehicles because of lower energy density. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our metals products
Limit your price risk exposure with daily metals market intelligence, empower your business with data-rich industry tools and inform your long-term strategy with outlooks backed by over 50 years of commodity reporting.
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.