Base metals

News, prices and analysis for aluminium, copper, nickel and other base metals

Base metals like copper, aluminium, nickel and alumina are some of the world’s most frequently traded commodities. With so many forces bearing down on the base metals market, win-win outcomes for negotiations depend on the depth and breadth of your understanding of the market.

Our global coverage, prices and forecasts give you the critical insights to understand what’s driving volatility and help you minimize risk and predict future trends. Our team of market experts provides more than 150 base metals prices from across the globe to empower you with the most current market-reflective prices, historical trends and future outlooks. And, as the drive to lower carbon emissions intensifies, Fastmarkets is leading the way with low-carbon aluminium pricing launched in 2021.

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The current shortage of some higher purity grades of aluminium, such as P0610, and the robust demand for units should maintain the higher differential to prices for P1020-grade aluminium, market sources told Fastmarkets on Monday January 30

Consolidation, the recycling of electric vehicle batteries, US steel exports and the benefits of sustainable steelmaking were key talking points at Fastmarkets’ Scrap & Steel 2023 conference in Dallas in January

The fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is changing global trade flows for bauxite, with Brazilian material once again flowing into China and with the introduction of export restrictions elsewhere likely to influence availability through 2023

Supported by stronger market conditions and higher production capacity, the Brazilian aluminium industry will depend less on imports and will instead prioritize locally-produced metal in 2023, market participants told Fastmarkets

Fastmarkets analysts are forecasting an increase in prices across the base metals complex by the end of 2023. Copper and nickel prices are expected to be the best performers next year and to show large increases by the end of 2023, with the speed of this growth heavily dependent on China’s economic recovery

China’s automobile output and sales edged upward in 2022 from a year earlier, supported by the government’s policy to halve the purchase tax on vehicles as well as other policies aimed at promoting consumer activity

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Our price coverage for the base metals market
Base metals prices are the foundation for important decisions within your organization. We provide more than 150 base metal prices, including industry benchmarks from across the globe. Our price coverage can help your organization to evaluate risk, optimize your purchasing strategy, negotiate in both physical and financial contracts and make the right decision every time.
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    • Copper grade A cathode warrant premium, in-whs South Europe, $/tonne
    • Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
    • Copper blister 98-99% RC annual benchmark, cif China, $/tonne

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