Osaka, Japan-headquartered Daikin Industries, the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer, is partnering with Shin-Etsu Chemical, Hitachi and Tokyo Eco Recycle to recover and recycle rare earth magnets from compressors starting in 2027, the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday April 14.

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.

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

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 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.

An interview in which Andrea Hotter spoke with Jon Stibbs, managing editor for technology and energy metals, to explore a growing concern for global defense supply chains.

The Canada HRC hot-rolled price hovered around C$55 ($40) per hundredweight as market participants reacted with dismay to new US policies that affect the way tariffs are calculated on derivative metals products.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) move to extend its export window for cobalt quotas has been viewed as potentially easing supply tightness, although the immediate market reaction has been limited.

The European Commission published the first-quarter 2026 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate price on Tuesday April 7, applicable to all CBAM-eligible goods imported into the EU in January-March 2026.