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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from April 22

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday April 22 that are worth another look.

April 23, 2019
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

The US copper market began trading in the red on Monday April 22, with market participants bearish despite a softer dollar and growing optimism of a breakthrough in American and Chinese trade talks.

Brazilian steelmaker and miner Usiminas maintained its production target of 7.5-8 million tonnes of iron ore in 2019 despite uncertainties that surround the start of operations at two plants needed to reach that volume, head of mining unit Carlos Rezzonico said on Friday.

China has reached peak annual steel consumption of 850-900 million tonnes, the China Iron and Steel Association said.

Global diversified mining and metals company South32 raised its 2019 production guidance for manganese ore to 5,630,000 wet metric tonnes, up by 89,000 tonnes from 5,541,000 tonnes in the 2018 financial year in response to favorable demand in the market.

The price of antimony in China stalled in the latest assessment period ended on April 17, with the country’s suppliers holding offers relatively firm as consumer enthusiasm in restocking waned.

What to read next
Copper coils up close
How Gulf port disruptions impact global base metal exports
Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Port of Sohar in Oman are becoming tactical workarounds for base metal exports blocked by the Strait of Hormuz closure, with cargo transiting via land-bridge to other Gulf states, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – though capacity constraints and elevated logistics costs limit availability, sources with direct visibility of Gulf supply chains told Fastmarkets.
March 13, 2026
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By Viral Shah
Aluminum ingots
Middle East conflict might create supply constraints, raise in aluminium premiums in Mexico
The Mexican aluminium market might be strongly affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with supply constraints and consequently higher premiums, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday March 10.
March 12, 2026
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By Leticia Simionato
Copper cathode
Lundin, BHP’s Vicuña project targets 395,000 tpy of copper concentrate from Argentina
Lundin Mining and BHP published a preliminary economic assessment on February 16 for their Vicuña joint venture, projecting average annual copper production of 395,000 tonnes over the first 25 years of operation as Argentina’s copper concentrate pipeline continues to build. PSJ Cobre Mendocino separately confirmed on February 14 that its feasibility study was under way.
March 10, 2026
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By Julienne Raboca
Architecture, Building, Cityscape
Chinese lead smelters cautious on concentrates purchases amid silver price volatility
Chinese lead smelters turned more bearish on the procurement of raw materials in the week to Friday February 13, amid heightened price volatility in silver, which is often contained in lead ores as an important by-product and contributor to smelter profits, sources told Fastmarkets.
March 10, 2026
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By Shiyue Zhao
A shipping tanker sailing through the Straight of Hormuz on a sunny day
Strait of Hormuz closure threatens 40,000 t/month copper cathode flows to Gulf as Jebel Ali blocked, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah near capacity
Roughly 40,000 tonnes per month of copper cathode that once flowed smoothly into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through Jebel Ali had few options to reroute after the Strait of Hormuz officially closed on Monday March 2, with the only alternative entry points — Khor Fakkan and Fujairah — already straining under the weight of diverted cargo, market sources told Fastmarkets.
March 5, 2026
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By Julienne Raboca
Mining, Boat, Transportation
Forging uncertainty: How miners can turn market turbulence into strategic advantage
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