New plans to introduce block trades for bilaterally negotiated transactions on the London Metal Exchange are aimed at enhancing liquidity and transparency without harming the exchange’s core physical user base, chief executive officer Matthew Chamberlain told Fastmarkets.

The London Metal Exchange has unveiled a series of proposals which, if successful, could accomplish what it failed to achieve close to a decade ago: bringing the investment community into the fold.

The primary aluminium premium for duty-unpaid units in Rotterdam edged higher in the week to Tuesday September 3, while the wider European market found continued support from high replacement costs and tight nearby inventories despite slow consumer demand.

Market participants are converging on Bali in Indonesia for the Fastmarkets International Critical Minerals & Metals Summit (ICMMS) on September 5 and 6, so ahead of the event, we capture the main themes facing the global nickel market.

China’s nickel sulfate prices have been consolidating within the range of 26,000-27,500 yuan ($3,653-3,863) per tonne in the past few weeks, with no signs of a clear direction, sources told Fastmarkets.

Macroeconomic challenges are putting pressure on the copper industry in Europe, with German demand particularly weak, sources told Fastmarkets

Société Générale is leaving the London Metal Exchange ring trading floor to move to Category II membership.

Africa is known for being home to many key resources, including copper and cobalt, but it’s equally known for its persistent logistics issues, such as trucking strikes, shortages of transport capacity and congested ports, which have caused constant delays in shipments from the region.

A $3 billion deal between BHP and Lundin Mining is the first concrete sign that Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, can persuade international investors to build copper mines in the country.

Fastmarkets analysts expect aluminium demand from European carmakers to slow this year, as consumer sentiment remains pessimistic and cautious