Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) shareholders have approved a plan to raise $1.1 billion through the sale of common stocks, the company said on Friday January 22 as part of its expansion plan across its product range, which includes lithium and other industrial chemicals.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part firmer on Monday January 25, after having dipped on Friday – optimism over US President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion fiscal stimulus plan was outstripping the worrying news about the new Covid-19 cases in China.

A new outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in southern China, marking the first case of the disease reported...

Lithium miner Pilbara Minerals has completed the acquisition of Altura Lithium, it said on Wednesday January 20.

Aluminium producer Rusal has partnered with Henan Mingtai Aluminium to deliver low-carbon aluminium products to meet growing market demand, it said on Tuesday January 19.

After an extended consultation period, Fastmarkets has decided to amend its discount assessment for No2 copper scrap imported into China so that it is aligned with the country’s new import policy for such material.

Rabobank will close its commodity trade finance desks in London, Shanghai and Sydney after reviewing the embattled sector last summer.

The base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mainly stronger this morning, Monday January 18, aided by some strong economic data in China, including gross domestic product (GDP) that showed growth of 6.5% year on year in the fourth quarter, which was stronger than the 6.2% expected and up from 4.9% in the third quarter.

After a rapid rise of domestic steel prices across Europe in the second half of 2020, market sources have been voicing concerns that the situation will echo the scenario in 2008 of a price spike quickly followed by a sharp fall.

The base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mainly weaker this morning, Friday January 15, while those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly firmer in line with the stronger Chinese fundamentals.