Codelco stays flexible on copper trade amid tariff uncertainty

The United States is taking steps to strengthen its critical mineral supply. This move focuses on boosting domestic production, improving supply chains, and addressing regulatory challenges. These efforts aim to enhance economic growth and reinforce national security.

A second pricing notice will follow when the pricing database has been updated.  The following prices have been affected by this:MB-AL-0256 Aluminium fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-CU-0338 Copper fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-PB-0064 Lead fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-NI-0093 Nickel fixing price for LME trade, rand/tonne MB-SN-0005 Tin rand fixing price for LME trade, […]

The US-Ukraine mineral partnership deal has stalled due to security concerns, leaving future negotiations uncertain despite Ukraine's critical role in global mineral supplies. Meanwhile, President Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China and launched a copper import investigation to address national security risks and reduce reliance on foreign resources.

Trump’s tariffs on Canadian and Mexican metals have introduced significant instability to the U.S. metals sector. The 25% tariffs, coupled with retaliatory measures from Canada and Mexico, have fuelled price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and operational uncertainty across multiple industries. These trade policies are reshaping global market dynamics as stakeholders brace for long-term impacts on steel, aluminium, copper, and other metal commodities.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has moved to impose a suspension on exports of cobalt for four months due to the low-price environment at the start of the year, according to documents seen by Fastmarkets and sources close to the situation.

Argentina produces just 4,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of copper, while its neighbour Chile mines 5.5million tpy of the red metal every year. But the problem, Cornejo says, isn’t a lack of copper. “Our province borders Chile, and we share the copper-rich Andes with that country,” he said. “In fact, Chile’s best mining projects sit […]

The price was initially published as $60-70 per tonne and has since been corrected to $60-68 per tonne. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated to reflect this change. The price rationale was correct. For more information or to provide feedback on this correction notice or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data […]

Copper smelters struggling with record low treatment and refining charges (TCs/RCs) won’t be able to look to the Cobre Panama mine to ease market tightness any time soon.

This guide explores current price trends, breaks down the key copper scrap grades and provides a global outlook for 2025.