Base metals

News, prices and analysis for aluminium, copper, nickel and other base metals

Base metals like copper, aluminium, nickel and alumina are some of the world’s most frequently traded commodities. With so many forces bearing down on the base metals market, win-win outcomes for negotiations depend on the depth and breadth of your understanding of the market.

Our global coverage, prices and forecasts give you the critical insights to understand what’s driving volatility and help you minimize risk and predict future trends. Our team of market experts provides more than 150 base metals prices from across the globe to empower you with the most current market-reflective prices, historical trends and future outlooks. And, as the drive to lower carbon emissions intensifies, Fastmarkets is leading the way with low-carbon aluminium pricing launched in 2021.

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Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Port of Sohar in Oman are becoming tactical workarounds for base metal exports blocked by the Strait of Hormuz closure, with cargo transiting via land-bridge to other Gulf states, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – though capacity constraints and elevated logistics costs limit availability, sources with direct visibility of Gulf supply chains told Fastmarkets.

The Mexican aluminium market might be strongly affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with supply constraints and consequently higher premiums, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday March 10.

Chinese lead smelters turned more bearish on the procurement of raw materials in the week to Friday February 13, amid heightened price volatility in silver, which is often contained in lead ores as an important by-product and contributor to smelter profits, sources told Fastmarkets.

Discover how fear, deglobalization and AI are transforming the copper market. Insights from the Fast Forward podcast’s interview with David Lilley of Drakewood Capital.

European aluminium scrap and secondary ingot prices are on the rise, driven by a significant shortage of scrap. Trade sources indicate that low generation has constrained domestic supply, and this is happening even before the expected EU scrap export restrictions in Spring 2026.

Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-CU-0372, Copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany, $ per tonne price that was published incorrectly on Tuesday January 13.

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Our price coverage for the base metals market
Base metals prices are the foundation for important decisions within your organization. We provide more than 150 base metal prices, including industry benchmarks from across the globe. Our price coverage can help your organization to evaluate risk, optimize your purchasing strategy, negotiate in both physical and financial contracts and make the right decision every time.
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    • Aluminium P1020A premium P0610 netback rate, in-whs, dup/dp Rotterdam, $/tonne
    • Aluminium low-carbon differential value-added product, US Midwest, US cents/pound
    • Aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, Japan, South Korea, $/tonne

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