Mining

US-led peace talks could boost Rwandan processing of Congo minerals, sources say

Congolese minerals such as tungsten, tantalum and tin, which Kinshasa has long accused neighbouring Rwanda of illegally exploiting, could be exported legitimately to Rwanda for processing under the terms of a peace deal being negotiated by the U.S., three sources told Reuters.

May 20, 2025 - 2:09 PM

Indonesian coal shipments to China slide amid new benchmark push

Coal imports from China’s largest supplier Indonesia tumbled 20% to 14.286 million tons in April, customs data showed on Tuesday, as Chinese buyers rejected a push by Jakarta to use its government-set benchmark in international sales, in a bid to increase royalties.Indonesia began using the new government-set price, known as HBA and previously used only to calculate royalties, on March 1 to exert more national control over the value of both domestic and export transactions for the fuel commodity, but traders complain the index is opaque and more expensive.

May 20, 2025 - 12:51 PM

Codelco taps Rio Tinto for major new lithium tie-up

Chile’s Codelco will partner with global mining giant Rio Tinto for its new Maricunga lithium project, the state miner said on Monday, bringing a major new player into the sector in the world’s second-largest producer of the EV battery metal.The partnership, after a selection process, means Rio Tinto will become just the third private firm in Chile’s lithium sector, alongside Chile’s SQM and US firm Albemarle that have dominated production there for years.Codelco targets 2030 start at Maricunga lithium project

May 19, 2025 - 3:15 PM

China’s platinum jewellery demand revives after gold rally, WPIC says

Demand for platinum jewellery in China, which has declined significantly over the past decade, has started picking up, helping drive a deeper than previously expected global platinum deficit this year, the World Platinum Investment Council said on Monday.Chinese platinum jewellery fabrication rose 26% year-on-year in the first quarter, supported by platinum’s discount relative to gold prices , which are up 21% this year following a 27% rally in 2024. Platinum is up 9% this year after two years of decline.

May 19, 2025 - 2:49 PM

Shanghai exchange looks to open domestic nickel contract to foreigners this year, sources say

The Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) is considering opening its domestic nickel futures contract to foreign investors this year, instead of launching a separate contract on its International Energy Exchange (INE), two sources with knowledge of the matter said.ShFE has been exploring a more internationally-accessible nickel contract since at least 2023 as part of broader plans to build its global presence and challenge the dominance of rival the London Metal Exchange (LME).

May 19, 2025 - 11:07 AM

Rhodium prices to outperform platinum and palladium in 2025, Metals Focus says

Average prices for platinum and rhodium are expected to rise by 1% and 8%, respectively, this year, while palladium will see a 5% price reduction, consultancy Metals Focus said on Monday.The basket price of the platinum group metals (PGMs), which are chiefly used in vehicle exhausts to neutralise harmful engine emissions, has been under pressure from expansion of electric vehicles in recent years, tightening miners’ margins.

May 19, 2025 - 10:58 AM

Antofagasta’s Zaldivar mine in Chile secures environmental approvals through 2028

Antofagasta’s Zaldivar copper mine in Chile has obtained an environmental approval from local authorities to extend operations through 2028, the London-listed miner said on Thursday.“Thanks to this resolution, Minera Zaldivar will be able to operate with the same water source it uses today until 2028. This allows us to continue advancing in studies that aim to enable Minera Zaldivar’s operations until 2051,” CEO Ivan Arriagada said in a statement.(By Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Kylie Madry)

May 16, 2025 - 5:01 PM

China’s Shenghe Resources to buy Australia’s Peak Rare Earths for $97M

Peak Rare Earths said on Thursday that China’s Shenghe Resources will acquire the Australian firm for A$150.5 million ($96.62 million), in addition to the full amount raised under Peak’s proposed A$7.5 million entitlement offer.Peak Rare Earths is currently developing the Ngualla project in Tanzania, host to one of the largest, highest-grade and lowest-cost neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) deposits in the world.($1 = 1.5576 Australian dollars)(By Nichiket Sunil; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

May 16, 2025 - 3:15 PM

Mali hearing on Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto mines postponed to May 22

A Malian court hearing scheduled for Thursday on whether to put Barrick Mining’s Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex under provisional administration has been postponed to May 22, the president of the court said on Thursday.Barrick Mining, previously called Barrick Gold, and Mali’s government have been at odds since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that raises taxes and gives Mali’s government a greater share in the gold mines.

May 16, 2025 - 11:25 AM

Guinea repossess 51 mining licences, information minister says

Guinea’s military government has taken back 51 mining licences as it steps up efforts to repossess claims or concessions where operations have either not been launched or where it says permits are being underutilised, its information minister said.Reuters first reported that the government planned to cancel the licences on Thursday.Fana Soumah announced in a televised address late Thursday night that Guinea’s military ruler Mamady Doumbouya had signed the repossession decree, which covers bauxite, gold, diamond, graphite and iron concessions.

May 16, 2025 - 11:23 AM

China’s output cap to underpin aluminium despite trade wars

Weakness in aluminium demand linked to trade tensions will likely weigh on prices this year, but a longstanding cap on Chinese output could limit losses, analysts said.Prices of aluminium rose 7% last year, have fallen 2% on the London Metal Exchange (LME) CMAL3 so far this year after US President Trump imposed tariffs.China accounts for about 60% of global production of aluminium, used in transport, green energy and construction. Its output is constrained by a government cap of 45 million tons per year, a limit introduced in 2017 to curb overcapacity.

May 15, 2025 - 3:40 PM

Ferrexpo unit faces bankruptcy proceedings in Ukraine

Ukraine-focused miner Ferrexpo said on Thursday the Commercial Court of Poltava has accepted an application to open bankruptcy proceedings of its Ukrainian unit, Ferrexpo Poltava Mining (FPM).Ferrexpo shares fell 6.6% to 65 pence after the announcement.While the application has been accepted, no formal bankruptcy proceedings of the unit have commenced yet, the company said.The court has scheduled a preparatory court hearing for May 27 at which it will consider the bankruptcy application.

May 15, 2025 - 11:46 AM

Palladium market seen moving to balance after years of deficit, says Johnson Matthey

The palladium market, which was in a deficit in 2012-2024, will move into balance this year, with demand falling by 6% amid lower production of gasoline vehicles and increased recycling in China, Johnson Matthey said in a report.The 2025 demand outlook for platinum group metals (PGMs) – platinum, palladium, and rhodium – is highly uncertain as the impact of US import tariffs and retaliatory measures by other countries could see PGM use in auto and industrial applications fall short of forecasts, the autocatalyst maker added.

May 15, 2025 - 11:43 AM

Mining

Rio Tinto's Chile deal is a bet on unproven tech and lithium price bounce

Argentina approves $2.5B Rio Tinto lithium mining project

LME approves three more warehouse facilities for Hong Kong

Nyrstar seeks government funding for antimony production

Nippon Steel still committed to full US Steel takeover, says executive

Sandvik targets annual savings of $103 million

US-led peace talks could boost Rwandan processing of Congo minerals, sources say

Indonesian coal shipments to China slide amid new benchmark push

Codelco taps Rio Tinto for major new lithium tie-up

China’s platinum jewellery demand revives after gold rally, WPIC says

Shanghai exchange looks to open domestic nickel contract to foreigners this year, sources say

Rhodium prices to outperform platinum and palladium in 2025, Metals Focus says

Antofagasta’s Zaldivar mine in Chile secures environmental approvals through 2028

China’s Shenghe Resources to buy Australia’s Peak Rare Earths for $97M

Mali hearing on Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto mines postponed to May 22

Guinea repossess 51 mining licences, information minister says

China’s output cap to underpin aluminium despite trade wars

Ferrexpo unit faces bankruptcy proceedings in Ukraine

Palladium market seen moving to balance after years of deficit, says Johnson Matthey