A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

A new commodities report projects a boost in the price of nickel over the next three years — and that will have an impact on mining companies in Sudbury.

The projected price hike is connected to what’s happening overseas in Indonesia, where that country recently put a ban on exports of unprocessed ore—an effort to encourage foreign investment in domestic refining activity.

Read more at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/indonesian-ban-on-unprocessed-ore-exports-may-help-vale-1.2613830

Vale SA  secured 6.2 billion reais ($2.8 billion) of funding from Brazil’s state development bank for expansions at Carajas, the world’s largest iron ore complex.

The BNDES loan will help finance Rio de Janeiro-based Vale’s railway network and a new mining and processing unit in Para state with annual capacity of 90 million metric tons, the bank said in a statement distributed by e-mail today.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-15/vale-gets-2-8-billion-from-brazil-s-bndes-for-expansions.html

One of the biggest stories in the news for the past year or two has been the rising popularity of electric vehicles. This has caused the stock prices of some companies in the sector, such as Tesla, to soar to dizzying heights. However, there is another way for people that believe in the growth of electric cars to invest in the sector, and it’s a way that doesn’t involve buying highly followed and high-priced stocks in unprofitable companies.

That way is to invest in those companies that sell the raw materials needed to make electric cars. One of these materials is lithium, which is a vital component of the batteries that go into electric vehicles. 

Read more at: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/15/a-safer-way-to-invest-in-surging-demand-for-electr.aspx

WASHINGTON — The Strategic Materials Advisory Council today strongly criticized U.S. Government – and in particular, Department of Defense (DoD) – policies that fail to address ongoing, serious concerns about the supply chain for rare earth elements. Completely disregarding concerns about the lack of diversified sources and the potential for increased supply chain vulnerabilities, a recent DoD report observes that rare earth market conditions have “significantly improved for consumers of rare earths, including suppliers within the U.S. industrial base.”

Read more at: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2014/04/15/3418120/strategic-materials-advisory-council.html

The week’s biggest mover on the weekly Stainless MMI® was the price of Chinese primary nickel, which saw a 11.5 percent increase to CNY 118,000 ($18,993) per metric ton. Prices for Chinese 304 stainless steel scrap remained constant, closing the week at CNY 16,400 ($2,640) per metric ton. Closing at CNY 16,100 ($2,591) per metric ton, Chinese 316 stainless steel scrap remained unchanged for the week. At CNY 16,400 ($2,640) per metric ton, the price of Chinese 304 stainless coil did not change since the previous week. At CNY 26,000 ($4,185) per metric ton, the week finished with no movement for Chinese 316 stainless coil.

Read more at: https://agmetalminer.com/2014/04/stainless-mmi-chinese-nickel-rises-as-pig-iron-production-falls/

The analysts forecast the Global Lithium market to grow at a CAGR of 9.74 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing use of Lithium in Li-ion batteries. The Global Lithium market has also been witnessing the increase in the number of lithium exploration projects. However, the lack of professionals and skilled labor in the Lithium Mining industry could pose a challenge to the growth of this market. 

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1849331#ixzz2ytyMfZuP

“We have been bullish on nickel since the start of the year, but prices have risen more quickly than in our base case,” Jeff Currie, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, said in the report. “The price rally predominantly reflects the ongoing Indonesian ore export ban” and “concerns about the potential impact of any sanctions on Russian commodity exports.”

Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-04-14/nickel-rises-to-14-month-high-as-goldman-sachs-see-more-gains

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have joined global tech firms in lobbying against efforts to stop major multinational corporations from shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.

In submissions to an OECD draft paper, the mining companies said measures to prevent firms from abusing tax treaties would create ”unintended consequences” for dual-listed entities such as themselves.

Read more at: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/bhp-rio-join-campaign-against-oecd-limits-on-profitshifting-20140414-36noz.html

Having spent more than $1 billion developing its claims in Guinea’s Simandou mountains, mining giant Vale (NYSE:VALE  ) is poised to have the entire investment lost as a governmental technical panel recommends stripping the miner of all its rights to explore the massive iron ore deposit.

Although the panel hasn’t found any wrongdoing on Vale’s part, the miner acknowledged as recently as last month in its annual Securities and Exchange Commission filing it might lose everything, and reports are now surfacing that is in fact what will happen.

Read more at: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/13/vale-poised-for-massive-loss-in-guinea.aspx

A group led by a unit of China Minmetals Corp. agreed to pay Glencore Xstrata Plc (GLEN) $5.85 billion for the Las Bambas copper mine in Peru.

“Since we acquired Xstrata, our team has taken decisive steps to de-risk Las Bambas, which has culminated in this compelling offer from the consortium,” Baar, Switzerland-based Glencore said today in a statement.

Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-04-13/minmetals-group-to-buy-glencore-copper-project-for-5-dot-85-billion