Christopher Rivituso

Sources tell MetalMiner that lower seasonal demand has continued to push hot-rolled coil prices down in northern Europe since late June.

Steelmakers in Europe are seeing a large jump in hot rolled coil prices as people start to return to work from their summer holidays, which could have significant implications for the steel industry. “Stocks are low,” one source said about inventories for the flat rolled product held by both stockists and end-users.

The copper market recently experienced a significant development that could have big implications for global supply. Metals and mining multinational Anglo American has finalized an agreement with National Copper Corporation of Chile (Codelco) to merge operations at their respective Los Bronces and Andina copper mines, putting them among the top 5 largest sites in the world. According to a September 16 announcement, the agreement will unlock up to $5 billion in value from the adjacent sites.

In a move to offset China’s monopoly on rare earth metals and export restrictions, Aclara Resources plans to commission upstream and downstream sites in the Americas by 2028 to produce those critical minerals.