IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 24

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday December 24 that are worth another look.

December 25, 2019

By Generic people page

Base metals Copper

The recent downtrend in spot ferro-chrome prices in China was capped by strength in the domestic stainless steel market, while the European and US markets were flat ahead of the Christmas holiday break.

Aluminium premiums in South Korea rose in the week ending Tuesday December 24, while the main Japanese ports (MJP) spot premium was steady following last week’s increase.

Katanga Mining subsidiary Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) will buy land rights from La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines) covering areas next to KCC’s existing mining concessions.

A Brazilian federal court has removed a major hurdle keeping mining major Vale from acquiring fellow miner Ferrous Resources.

Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia experienced an uptick over the past week amid rebounding flat steel prices in the region.

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

Navigating market volatility with data-driven strategies for resilient mining operations

March 3, 2026