Abu Dhabi’s IRH Trading is accelerating its copper trading expansion, targeting 1 million tonnes per year by 2030. Backed by strategic mining assets in Africa and sovereign capital, the company aims to strengthen its global presence in metals trading while fostering long-term partnerships.

The capacity to smelt an additional volume of more than 800,000 tonnes per year of copper was advancing toward production readiness, Fastmarkets heard on Monday January 19.

Raw material tightness added further pressure to imported zinc concentrate supply to China, with volumes dropping sharply in the first quarter and market participants saying that low availability of spot cargoes is not expected to ease in the short term.

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Teck Resources has again reduced its copper output forecasts through 2028 as production challenges persist at its Quebrada Blanca mine in Chile, reflecting a broader slowdown across the global copper industry. The company’s revised targets underline tightening supply conditions for the red metal.

The Rosh Pinah zinc mine in Namibia will complete its expansion project by July 2026, Ignacio Bustamante, head of base metals at Appian Capital Advisory, told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Thursday April 4.

China's planned sulfuric acid export ban from May 1, historic lows for copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) and a fragmenting 2026 benchmark system dominated CESCO Week 2026 in Santiago from April 13-17.

Teck Resources and Korea Zinc have agreed annual zinc treatment charges (TCs) at $165 per tonne for 2024, the lowest level since 2021, Fastmarkets has learned from multiple sources.

Swiss trader Glencore’s profits halved in 2023 due to weaker energy and metals prices and production, according to the company’s full-year results released on Wednesday February 21