Nickel and tin led the pack in trading among base metals, with the rest of the complex demonstrating minimal movements on Wednesday July 25. Read more here in our live futures report.

Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:

Members of the main union at the Escondida copper mine in Chile are holding meetings to counter BHP’s latest contract offer, and the union will officially vote on July 28 on whether to accept the deal or strike.

Early negotiations are under way on a labor contract at the Cerro Verde mine in Peru, the country’s largest copper operation, according to majority owner Freeport-McMoRan. 

Freeport-McMoRan increasedits copper production by 13.4% in the first half of the year, led by major output gains at Grasberg in Indonesia. Freeport also is seeking an extension of its Indonesian subsidiary’s temporary special license that would allow it to remain in effect until all definitive agreements on its mining rights in the country are complete. 

Ukrainian steelmaker Metinvest will decrease its pig iron shipment volumes because of planned increases to steel production once a new continuous casting machine starts up at its Ilyich Steel mill in Mariupol.

Prices of domestic hollow steel sections made in Europe remained flat this week but the preliminary decision made in the European Union’s safeguard case could push up prices soon.

Finally, Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Europe have gone up slightly over the past week, supported by the effects of the preliminary decision in the EU safeguard case.