Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.

Military readiness relies on a narrow set of industrial inputs that enable advanced systems to function under extreme conditions. As supply chains become more complicated and politicised, securing reliable access to these materials is emerging as a strategic challenge for the defense industry.

Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.

LME copper prices took a significant hit following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a potential 50% tariff on copper imports. The uncertainty surrounding the timeline and implementation of the tariff has left market participants hesitant, with analysts noting its immediate impact on price momentum and trading activity.

Major trading houses Mercuria and Glencore secured copper concentrate offtake agreements totaling at least $450 million in prepayment financing in late December, with Mercuria signing for 195,000 wet metric tonnes from Bulgaria’s Ellatzite mine on December 30 and Orion Minerals providing an update on December 31 on its $200-250 million Glencore financing and offtake deal for South Africa’s Prieska project.

Fastmarkets has launched a suite broker/processor and ex-works prices to service the domestic and export Mexican stainless steel scrap markets respectively.

The Ozernoye zinc and lead mine in Russia launched concentrates production on Wednesday September 4 after year-long delays, Fastmarkets learned.

An interview in which Andrea Hotter spoke with Jon Stibbs, managing editor for technology and energy metals, to explore a growing concern for global defense supply chains.

Mitsui & Co has locked in long-term copper concentrate supply by acquiring 40% offtake rights to Argentina's Josemaria deposit, while Fortescue has completed its acquisition of Peru's Cañariaco project for approximately C$139 million ($101 million), marking the latest in a wave of offtake deals and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) while majors race to secure supply amid an increasingly constrained market and record-low treatment charges (TCs).

Demand for zinc was expected to grow by 2030, despite the challenges facing both the supply and demand sides, Andrew Green, executive director of the International Zinc Association, said in an exclusive interview with Fastmarkets during LME Week in London