ASIAN MORNING BRIEF 22/05: Jiangxi Copper opening new operation; Turkey steel production increases; Asia Week takeaways

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday May 22.

Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were predominantly higher at the close of trading on Monday May 21, with zinc and lead breaking through recent support and resisting the US dollar’s six-month high. Read more in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:

Jiangxi Copper, China’s largest copper smelter, is planning to set up metal concentrates blending and scrap processing operations in Southeast Asian countries, Metal Bulletin has learned.

Carmaker Daimler AG has gone “on the offensive” to secure a sustainable raw materials supply chain and has developed a number of initiatives across key raw materials to create transparency and to protect human rights, the Germany-based group has said.

Canada-based Cobalt Blockchain Inc (COBC) expects final ratification shortly for a copper/cobalt trading and export license that will allow it to establish regional buying depots in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), process minerals in-country and export internationally.

Ukraine’s ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is preparing to resume production of pig iron and steel after the stoppage last week that was caused by railroad department workers going on strike, the company said in a press release on May 21.

With uncertainty continuing to surround the United States’ sanctions on Russian producers, specifically Norilsk Nornickel, Lord Copper explores the unpredictability surrounding prices and the parties involved.

Turkey continued to grow its presence in the global steel market with an increase in both crude and finished steel output in the first four months of the year.

Metal Bulletin journalists round up the key themes and topics discussed at the sixth annual London Metal Exchange Asia Week, held in Hong Kong May 14-18.