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

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

May 27, 2019
By Generic people page
Base metals Copper

The three-month nickel price on the London Metal Exchange climbed by more than 4% at the close of trading on Friday May 24, soaring beyond $12,300 per tonne amid a slight softening of the dollar index and while investors sought to cover shorts ahead of the next week’s bank holiday in the United Kingdom.

Codelco expects to maintain current copper output at around 1.68 million tonnes per year over at least the next decade, the Chilean state-owned miner said, despite operational changes and sector headwinds.

Fastmarkets’ assessment of the tin warrant premium available on the LME climbed by more than 60% on Tuesday, reaching its highest level on record amid a flurry of higher-quality stock inflows.

Jiangxi Copper International Trading Co Ltd president Su Li has stepped down from his role, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed.

Belgian battery materials manufacturer Umicore SA has reached an agreement with Freeport Cobalt to acquire the latter’s cobalt refining and cathode precursor business at the Kokkola refinery in Finland.

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Incorrect publication of Shanghai copper premiums
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May 12, 2026
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Europe’s reliance on copper, aluminium imports exposed as security concerns overtake energy transition
On Wednesday May 6, a critical minerals panel at Commodities Trading Week in London said metals markets are shifting from an energy transition-led narrative toward security of supply, leaving Europe particularly exposed because of its reliance on imports.
May 12, 2026
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Canada unveils C$1.5 bln financing program to support US tariff-hit metals industry
The Canadian government announced on Tuesday May 4 a new financing program worth C$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) to help mitigate the effect of US metals tariffs and support several of Canada’s tariffed industries.
May 11, 2026
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Fastmarkets clarifies inclusion of government-set benchmark pricing in Indonesia nickel ore assessment
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify that it accepts data submissions in outright price and as a differential to the Mineral Benchmark Price (HPM)-plus-premium for its Indonesian domestic trade nickel ore price assessments. Fastmarkets is also seeking market feedback on recent changes to the Indonesian government’s HPM specifications.
May 8, 2026
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By Fastmarkets pricing team
Glencore Q1: African copper cathode surges 68%, cobalt production falls 39% y-o-y
Own-sourced copper output from Glencore’s African copper assets — KCC and Mutanda in the Democratic Republic of Congo — surged by 68% year on year to 67,900 tonnes over the same period, while Glencore’s cobalt production fell by 39% year on year amid the DRC’s export quota system.
May 6, 2026
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By Sofia Okun