China’s Tsingshan Plans to Build Another Aluminium Smelter in Indonesia
Chinese aluminium giant Tsingshan announced plans to build a new $3 billion smelter at Weda Bay Industrial Park in Indonesia, with a planned annual capacity of 800,000 tonnes split into two phases. The project joins existing Tsingshan‑linked facilities that will together add roughly 430,000 tonnes of capacity by 2026, pushing Indonesia’s total output toward 2 million tonnes per year. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have tightened global aluminium supplies, boosting premiums for Indonesian‑origin metal and attracting buyers seeking diversification. Production is expected to start within two years, reinforcing Indonesia’s role as a key alternative source for the market.
How the US Is Bankrolling a Worldwide Tungsten Network
Washington is orchestrating a coordinated tungsten strategy that blends Export‑Import Bank (EXIM) and Development Finance Corporation (DFC) loans, Pentagon funding, and strategic stockpiling to curb dependence on China. The approach funds overseas projects in Kazakhstan, Australia, the UK and Rwanda...
Japan’s Daikin to Launch Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Program
Daikin announced a rare‑earth magnet recycling program slated for full‑scale operation by 2027. The initiative will collect compressors from used commercial air‑conditioners, dismantle them with Tokyo Eco Recycle and Hitachi, and hand extracted magnets to Shin‑Etsu Chemical for re‑manufacturing. Japan,...
Global Fibers for Nonwovens Under Pressure as US-Israel-Iran Conflict Drives Costs, Affects Supply
The global market for fibers used in nonwovens faced sharp cost pressure in March as the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict disrupted feedstock supplies, especially through the Strait of Hormuz. Naphtha price spikes pushed polymer costs higher, leading to 4‑11% price gains for...
Crossties Sector Faces Complex Downturn After Two Decades as a Bulwark for Hardwood Industries
The North American crosstie market, long the third‑largest hardwood consumer, is entering a sharp downturn as Class I railroads confront merger uncertainty and oversized tie inventories. The proposed Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger and CSX’s cost‑cutting measures have slashed tie purchases...
Kamoa-Kakula Q1 Copper Concentrate Output Falls 54% Year on Year, Ivanhoe Weighs Third-Party Purchases
Ivanhoe Mines reported that its Kamoa‑Kakula on‑site smelter generated 1,350 tonnes per day of sulfuric acid in Q1, equating to about 480,000 tonnes annually, well below its 700,000‑ton design capacity. Copper concentrate output dropped 54% year‑on‑year to 61,906 tonnes, prompting...
What’s Next for US and Mexico Aluminium? Key Insights From Fastmarkets’ Market Outlook Webinar
Fastmarkets’ webinar highlighted that Middle East supply shocks and U.S. Section 232 tariff changes are tightening aluminium markets across the United States and Mexico. Billet and primary foundry alloy (PFA) premiums have surged, while scrap aluminium is gaining prominence as a...
10 Things in Focus at CESCO Week 2026 as Sulfuric Acid Upends the Copper Market
CESCO Week 2026 highlighted a perfect storm for copper as China announced a sulfuric acid export ban effective May 1, driving acid prices toward $400 per tonne. Treatment and refining charges for copper concentrates surged past $100 per tonne, with the...
End of Open Consultation on Fastmarkets’ Ferrous Methodology
Fastmarkets concluded its open consultation on the ferrous metals pricing methodology on April 2, 2024. The agency sought industry input to ensure its price specifications and publication frequency meet IOSCO principles for price reporting agencies. No feedback was received during the...
Launch of Cold-Rolled Grain Oriented Electrical Steel, Ex-Whs Eastern China Price Assessment: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets has launched a new price assessment for cold‑rolled grain‑oriented (CRGO) electrical steel ex‑warehouse Shanghai, following a one‑month consultation that ran from March 5 to April 4, 2026. The assessment, listed under MB‑STE‑0952, covers B23R085 and 23QG085 grades, 0.23 mm thickness, with a 10‑tonne...
End of Open Consultation on Methodology for Saudi Arabia Domestic Steel Scrap Index
Fastmarkets closed its open consultation on the methodology for its Saudi Arabia domestic steel scrap index (MB-STE-0939) on April 8, 2026, after receiving no feedback. The review examined pricing process, specifications and publication frequency to meet IOSCO principles for price‑reporting agencies. A...
Correction to Alumina Index, Fob Australia and Inferred Prices on April 15
Fastmarkets issued a correction notice on April 15, adjusting its alumina price indices by two cents per tonne. The Australia FOB index was updated to $303.20 per dry metric tonne, and inferred prices for Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Brazil were...
CZPT Set Zinc Concentrates TC Guidance at $35-70 per Tonne for Q2 2026 Purchasing
Fastmarkets reports that the China Zinc and Lead Producers’ Association (CZPT) has cut its Q2 2026 zinc concentrate transaction cost (TC) guidance to $35‑70 per tonne, a $60 per tonne reduction from the $105‑120 range set for Q1 2026. Spot...
CME Lithium Carbonate Futures Contract Records Consecutive Monthly Trading Volume High in April 2026
Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s lithium carbonate futures saw a record monthly trading volume of 3,473 lots in April 2026, eclipsing the previous high of 2,373 lots set in March. Daily activity also peaked at 1,600 lots on April 2, the highest single‑day...
Unlocking the Hidden Power of Strategic Defense Materials with Jon Stibbs, Fastmarkets
Defense systems increasingly rely on four critical metals—cobalt, gallium, germanium and antimony—whose unique properties enable high‑performance engines, advanced sensors, and secure communications. Production and refining of these metals are heavily concentrated, with China controlling most processing and the Democratic Republic...