The London Metal Exchange (LME) has set out its plan to launch low-carbon base metals price premiums for nickel, aluminium, zinc and copper in a white paper published on Monday October 13.

The DRC’s export quota system has tightened cobalt supply, driving price volatility and prompting shifts in sourcing strategies across the global market.

LME Week 2025 opens for the lithium market amid rising uncertainty over China’s new export controls on battery materials, and a shifting outlook for domestic supply from lepidolite and salt-lake projects

The effect of the fatal rock burst at Codelco’s flagship El Teniente mine will be greater than initially expected, with copper production losses now forecast to reach 48,000 tonnes in 2025, the Chilean producer’s chairman has said.

Abu Dhabi’s IRH Trading is accelerating its copper trading expansion, targeting 1 million tonnes per year by 2030. Backed by strategic mining assets in Africa and sovereign capital, the company aims to strengthen its global presence in metals trading while fostering long-term partnerships.

The International Trade Centre and Global Battery Alliance have partnered to advance digital infrastructure and develop frameworks for battery passport certification. The initiative supports global standards for sustainability, transparency and traceability across the battery value chain.

Geology not ideology: Why collaboration is key in the critical minerals supply chain

LME zinc stocks have fallen to their lowest levels since April 2023 but traders suggest the withdrawals are driven more by warehouse activity and speculation than genuine demand. Meanwhile, Europe’s sluggish consumption contrasts with swelling inventories in China.

Freeport-McMoRan has declared force majeure at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia following a fatal incident, with copper and gold output expected to fall 35% in 2026. The company projects a gradual recovery, with operations potentially returning to pre-incident levels in 2027.

Steel imports into Brazil are expected to decline further as Chinese tax changes and weak domestic demand weigh on the market. With interest rates at two-decade highs, both imports and local production are under pressure, though 2026 could bring short-term recovery tied to election-year stimulus.