IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from June 22

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday June 22 that are worth another look.

The dramatic consequences of the Covid-19-related lockdowns across Europe, and the corresponding shutdowns of industrial activities, have resulted in an enormous disruption to the supply chains across all sectors of the steel industry.

Chilean state-run copper producer Codelco has decided to halt all of its construction projects in the north of the country, including the underground phase of Chuquicamata, while the Covid-19 pandemic spreads across the region, the company said on Saturday June 20.

China’s electrolytic manganese flake export price maintained its one-year low on Friday June 19 on lower offers from traders amid sluggish overseas demand, sources said.

Weak end-user demand pushed the ammonium paratungstate (APT) price in Europe and the United States down by 4.5% in the week to June 19, sources said.

The UG2 chrome ore market dipped
in the week to June 19 amid a lack of meaningful trading activity ahead of the release of July ferro-chrome tender prices, while spot Chinese ferro-chrome prices continued to show signs of softening.

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Goldcorp founder Rob McEwen is back in the spotlight with a bold bet on copper in Argentina. The $2.5 billion Los Azules project, set to become Argentina’s first major copper mine in over 30 years, is reshaping the country’s mining industry while raising sustainability standards. Positioned as a key player in addressing a global copper shortage, the project highlights innovation, persistence and a commitment to meeting the growing demand from global electrification.
Fastmarkets has launched MB-NI-0257, high-grade nickel matte payable indicator, 65-75% nickel contained, cif China, % of official exchange price on Friday May 30.
The following price was affected: MB-AL-0020 Aluminium P1020A premium, ddp Midwest US, US cents/lb.  This price is a part of the Fastmarkets Base Metals package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please […]
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.