The Metalnomist
Independent metals/mining analyst covering offtakes (tungsten), new bauxite projects, DRC copper/cobalt supply and geopolitics; links to detailed writeups.
April Manganese Ore Prices Surge on Tight Indian Supply
Moil raised April manganese ore prices as tight Indian supply and restricted imports lifted feedstock costs. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/moil-moil-manganese-ore-prices-rose.html
Yunnan Germanium Boosts InP Wafer Capacity for AI, Optics
Yunnan Germanium will expand InP wafer capacity as optical communications and AI data demand grow. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/yunnan-chihong-yunnan-germanium-inp.html
Mercedes Commits $4 Bn to Alabama SUV Plant
Mercedes will invest $4bn in Alabama SUV production as part of a broader US manufacturing plan. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/mercedes-alabama-auto-plant-investment.html
Titanium Prices Stabilize Amid Inventory-Driven Buying Pause
Titanium prices held steady as inventory drawdowns limited new buying in Europe and the US. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/titanium-prices-hold-as-inventory.html
AI Data Centers Drive New US Optical Cable Plant
Corning and Meta start US optical cable plant as AI data centres lift germanium demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/corning-meta-optical-cable-plant.html
Toyota Tsusho Secures 20% Stake to Boost US Battery Supply
Toyota Tsusho acquired a 20% PPESNA stake to build a North American battery supply chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/06/toyota-tsusho-ppesna-stake-strengthens.html
Ivanhoe Slashes Kamoa Kakula Copper Guidance After Seismic Setbacks
Ivanhoe cut Kamoa Kakula copper guidance after seismic damage raised costs and delayed recovery. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/kamoa-kakula-copper-guidance-cut.html
Jinli Magnet Boosts 2025 Output on NEV, Robotics Demand
Jinli Magnet raised rare earth permanent magnet output and sales in 2025 on NEV and robotics demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/jinli-magnet-permanent-magnets-output.html
EU Zinc Imports Drop 2025 as Dutch, German Demand Slumps
EU zinc imports fell in 2025 as Dutch and German buying weakened despite stronger Italy demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/eu-zinc-imports-fell-in-2025-as-dutch.html
AI Data Centers Spur Surge in Silicon Photonics Capacity
Semiconductor firms expand silicon photonics capacity as AI data centres drive optical interconnect demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/silicon-photonics-capacity-expands-as.html
Cobalt Blue, Glomar Launch US Nodules Pilot for Critical Minerals
Cobalt Blue and Glomar plan pilot processing of polymetallic nodules for US critical minerals supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/cobalt-blue-glomar-nodule-processing.html
Safran Pours €125 M Into Belgian Compressor Plant for Next‑gen Engines
Safran invests €125mn in Belgium compressor components plant to support LEAP, GEnx and GE9X engines. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/safran-compressor-components-plant.html
Mitsubishi Materials to Close Onahama Smelter by 2027
Mitsubishi Materials will shut Onahama copper smelting by March 2027 as TC/RC margins collapse. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/mitsubishi-materials-onahama-copper.html
Albemarle Launches $3.1B DLE Project to Boost Chile Lithium Recovery
Albemarle plans $3.1bn DLE project in Chile to raise lithium recovery and reduce brine extraction. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/albemarle-dle-project-targets-higher.html
Argentina Ramps up Lithium, Copper Output with Incentives
Argentina targets major lithium and copper output growth with reserves, tax incentives and new projects. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/argentina-lithium-production-push.html
EU Ferro‑Titanium Imports Drop to 2009 Low Post‑Sanctions
EU ferro-titanium imports hit a 2009 low in 2025 after Russian sanctions reshaped supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/eu-ferro-titanium-imports-fell-to-2009.html
Uber, Rivian Target 50k Robotaxis, Spike Lidar Metals
Uber and Rivian plan 50,000 robotaxis, boosting focus on Lidar and minor metals demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/uber-rivian-robotaxi-partnership.html
DOE Allocates $500 Million for U.S. Critical Mineral Processing
DOE offers up to $500mn for US critical mineral processing and battery materials projects. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/us-critical-mineral-processing-funding.html
Nth Cycle Lands $1.1bn Recycled Nickel‑lithium Deal with Trafigura
Nth Cycle signs $1.1bn Trafigura battery materials deal for recycled nickel and lithium supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/nth-cycle-trafigura-battery-materials.html
India Fuel Crunch Slashes Jindal Stainless Output and Delays Shipments
India stainless steel fuel crunch forces Jindal Stainless to cut output and warn of shipment delays. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/india-stainless-steel-fuel-crunch.html
NRE, Funeng to Build
NRE and Ningbo Funeng plan a 10,000 t/yr rare earth alloy plant in Baotou. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/rare-earth-metal-alloy-production.html
US, Chile Launch Critical Minerals Talks for Strategic Supply
US and Chile begin critical minerals talks covering copper, lithium, rare earths and project financing. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/us-chile-critical-minerals-talks-signal.html
Qatalum Maintains 60% Aluminium Output Amid Gulf Shipping Disruption
Qatalum keeps aluminium output at 60% as gas supply continues amid Gulf shipping disruption. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/qatalum-aluminium-output-to-stay-at-60.html
CATL, Rio Tinto Team up for Mining Electrification and Recycling
CATL and Rio Tinto partner to advance mining electrification, recycling and critical minerals circularity. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/catl-rio-tinto-partnership-targets.html
Airbus Teams with Norsk Titanium for Fast Plasma‑Deposited Parts
Norsk Titanium and Airbus partner to develop rapid plasma deposition for aerospace titanium parts. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/norsk-titanium-airbus-partnership.html
EU Green Procurement Draft Criticized for Weak Steel, Fertilizer Rules
EU green procurement draft faces criticism over weak low-carbon steel and fertilizer demand rules. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/eu-green-procurement-rules-face.html
Fading La Nina, Emerging El Niño Threatens Supply Chains
La Nina is expected to fade, but possible El Nino conditions could add climate risk for supply chains. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/la-nina-conditions-set-to-fade-as-el.html
Hudbay's C$1.5bn ASCU Deal Expands Arizona Copper Platform
Hudbay to acquire ASCU in C$1.5bn deal, adding Cactus to its Arizona copper growth platform. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/hudbay-ascu-acquisition-builds-larger.html
Rio Tinto Greenlights $473M Zulti South Expansion
Rio Tinto approves $473mn RBM Zulti South expansion to extend zircon and ilmenite supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/rbm-mineral-sands-expansion-extends-rio.html
Xiaomi's Factory Robots Foreshadow Rare‑earth Magnet Surge
Xiaomi tests humanoid robots in its EV factory, pointing to future rare earth magnet demand. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/xiaomi-humanoid-robots-signal-new-rare.html
Codelco, Rio Tinto Ink Preliminary Deal for Chilean Mining
Codelco and Rio Tinto sign preliminary deal to seek joint mining investments in Chile. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/codelco-rio-tinto-partnership-targets.html
Aerospace Revenue Grows as Engines, Defence Offset Civil Slump
Melrose aerospace revenue rose in 2025 as engines, defence and aftermarket demand offset civil weakness. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/melrose-aerospace-revenue-rises-on.html
Amag Aluminium Earnings Drop on Tariffs, Weak Auto Demand
Amag aluminium earnings fell in 2025 as tariffs, weak automotive demand and high costs hit margins. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/amag-aluminium-earnings-fall-as-tariffs.html
Utah Germanium Refining Boosts Semiconductor Material Demand
5N Plus sees strong demand for semiconductor materials as germanium refining expands in Utah. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/5n-plus-semiconductor-materials-demand.html
MP Materials to Build $1.25B Texas Magnet Campus
MP Materials plans a $1.25bn Texas magnet campus to expand US rare earth magnet capacity. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/mp-materials-magnet-campus-in-texas.html
EU Steel Demand Threatened by Early CBAM Import Advantage
EU steel demand faces CBAM timing risk as downstream imports may gain cost advantage before 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/05/eu-steel-demand-faces-cbam-risk-before.html
AI Surge Drives Yageo’s 2025 Tantalum Sales Growth
Yageo sales rise in 2025 as AI demand boosts tantalum capacitors and electronic components. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/yageo-ai-demand-lifts-sales-as-tantalum.html
First Solar Sets 2025 Sales Record Amid Tariff Uncertainty
First Solar module sales hit record in 2025 as US production expands amid tariff uncertainty. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/first-solar-module-sales-hit-record-as.html
Indonesia Reexamines QMB Nickel Licence Amid Tightening RKAB Quotas
Indonesia reviews QMB nickel licence after IMIP landslide as RKAB quotas tighten nickel supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/qmb-nickel-licence-review-signals.html
EQ Resources Secures Traxys Tungsten Deal Amid Price Surge
EQ Resources signs Traxys tungsten offtake deal as APT prices surge on tight supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/tungsten-offtake-deal-strengthens-eq.html
Brazil, India Boost Critical Minerals Partnership for Supply Resilience
Brazil and India deepen critical minerals and rare earths cooperation to build resilient supply chains. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/brazil-india-critical-minerals-deal.html
BNDES Funds CBA Aluminum Upgrade for Efficiency and Sustainability
Bndes will fund CBA’s aluminum unit upgrade in Brazil to improve efficiency, logistics, and environmental performance. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/brazil-aluminum-unit-upgrade-gains.html
Taseko Launches Florence Copper Cathode, Targets 30‑35 M Lbs
Taseko began copper cathode production at Florence in Arizona and expects 30-35mn lbs of output this year. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/taseko-florence-copper-project-begins.html
PLS Restarts Ngungaju Plant, Signals Rising Spodumene Demand
PLS will restart the Ngungaju plant in July, signaling stronger spodumene demand and broader Pilgangoora growth plans. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/pls-ngungaju-lithium-plant-restart.html
UN Calls for Global Platform to Align Energy Transition
The UN wants a global platform to align fossil fuel transition, energy security, and climate investment. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/fossil-fuel-transition-platform-gains.html
Global Defence Surge Lifts BAE Systems 2025 Sales
BAE Systems lifted 2025 sales and backlog as global defence demand boosted aircraft and materials needs. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/bae-systems-defence-demand-lifts-sales.html
US‑Ecuador Deal Slashes Copper Tariffs, Boosts Exports
The US-Ecuador trade deal could lower copper tariffs and open a new export path for Ecuadorian metals. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/us-ecuador-trade-deal-could-open-new.html
Tenax and Air Industries Merge Into $210M Aerospace Platform
Tenax and Air Industries plan to merge, creating a $210mn aerospace and defense manufacturing platform. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/tenax-aerospace-air-industries-merger.html
Carpenter Appoints Brian Malloy CEO, Ensuring Leadership Continuity
Carpenter will name Brian Malloy as chief executive on 1 July, signaling continuity in specialty alloy leadership. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/carpenter-technology-chief-executive.html
Suzuki Debuts First Indian Electric SUV Amid Supply Constraints
Suzuki launched its first electric SUV in India, highlighting both EV ambition and supply chain constraints. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/suzuki-e-vitara-electric-suv-launch.html