Proposed rail mergers, corporate shifts and large inventories are creating significant uncertainty in the crossties railroad market. Learn more.

Copper in concentrate production from Ivanhoe Mines' Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fell to 61,906 tonnes in the first quarter, down by 54% from 133,120 tonnes a year earlier, with the company now evaluating local third-party concentrate purchases to advance the ramp-up of its on-site smelter, according to an April 13 production release as the market focused its attention on the impact of global sulfuric acid shortages during CESCO Week in Chile from April 13-17.

Malaysia’s palm oil exports totaled 580,018 tonnes during April 1-15, down by 324,724 tonnes or 35.89% from 904,742 tonnes shipped during the same period a month ago, according to data from cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services (ITS).

Soyoil futures surged on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Thursday April 16, supported by soaring crude oil prices, tight domestic soybean markets and no biomass-based biodiesel imports reported for March, while crude palm oil (CPO) futures help broadly unchanged in Malaysia.

Aluminium markets in the US and Mexico are facing an unprecedented mix of geopolitical disruption, trade policy shifts and tightening supply conditions.

China's planned sulfuric acid export ban from May 1, historic lows for copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) and a fragmenting 2026 benchmark system dominated CESCO Week 2026 in Santiago from April 13-17.

The China Zinc Smelter Purchase Team (CZSPT) set its buying guidance for imported zinc concentrate treatment charges (TCs) at $35-70 per tonne for the second quarter of 2026 during a meeting held in Chengdu, China.

The launch follows a one-month consultation period which ended on April 6. The two prices will broaden coverage of the world’s largest graphite flake market, complementing existing Fastmarkets’ graphite flake offerings. The new Chinese domestic prices will provide market participants with additional reference points, capturing unique dynamics of Chinese graphite market, particularly in the wake of graphite export controls […]

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lithium carbonate futures contract achieved its second consecutive record monthly trading volume in April, according to CME data.

Military readiness relies on a narrow set of industrial inputs that enable advanced systems to function under extreme conditions. As supply chains become more complicated and politicised, securing reliable access to these materials is emerging as a strategic challenge for the defense industry.