Peru’s Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero expects mining investment in the world’s third-largest copper producer to reach $4.8 billion this year, and output of the red metal to be 2.8 million metric tons, he said on Tuesday.
Source – Reuters
A Chilean startup backed by BHP Group has delivered its first copper cathodes from a demonstration plant at a mine site in northern Chile as the industry looks to squeeze out more metal from lower quality ore.
Ceibo and firms such as Jetti Resources LLC and Rio Tinto Group’s Nuton venture are looking to roll out catalysts for liberating copper from low-grade ore that miners previously saw as too expensive and difficult to process.
Source – Mining.com
Copper cathode – is high quality copper that is produced through the process of electrolysis.
Electrolysis – is an electric current that passes through a substance to have a chemical change.
Panama has approved First Quantum Minerals’ maintenance plan for its closed copper mine in the country, but not a re-start of the site, a top trade official said on Friday
Trade and Industry Minister Julio Molto said the plan included environmental safety measures that were necessary following the abrupt shut-down by government order under the prior administration in late 2023.
“The mine is not being reopened. We’re authorizing the implementation of the care and safe management plan to ensure it is environmentally protected,” Molto told a press conference.
He said that experts estimate that process could take three to six months, accounting for environmental measures.
Source – Reuters
Poland’s copper mining tax will fall from next year under a new system that will provide deductions related to investment spending, Polish finance minister Andrzej Domanski said on Friday.
The tax on mineral extraction, including copper, was introduced in 2012. Poland’s biggest copper miner KGHM paid 3.87 billion zlotys in tax in 2024, according to its annual report.
“By taking care of investments in Poland, by taking care of the development of KGHM, we also take care of the collective security of the West and the European Union.”
Source – Reuters
Unusually large shipments of copper to the United States are unlikely to abate as long as the threat of tariffs hangs over the market and price premiums for the metal on U.S.-based COMEX make deals profitable for traders and producers, analysts said.
COMEX copper hit a record high at $11,633 a metric ton on March 26, creating a premium of more than $1,570 a ton against the benchmark contract on the London Metal Exchange.
“We expect 250,000-300,000 tons of extra copper will be shipped to the U.S. over March-May because of the spread and amid the uncertainties regarding the tariff,” said Sharon Ding, head of China basic materials at UBS Investment Research.
“It’s possible we’ll see more atypical cargos in the second half of May,” Kpler analyst Ben Ayre said. “While the COMEX price continues to run at a premium to the LME there’s a strong incentive to land refined copper in the United States.”
Source – Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariff on copper imports has generated a mass relocation of physical metal, swamping the U.S. market and draining the rest of the world.
The physical response has been so powerful that it has caused the futures arbitrage between the CME contract and the London Metal Exchange (LME) price to collapse.
CME copper inventory has risen by 81% since the start of the year and is now at an eight-year high of 168,563 short tons (152,919 metric tons).
LME copper inventory has slumped to a one-year low of 179,375 tons, with 40% of what remains awaiting physical load-out.
China’s imports of refined copper fell 5% on a year-over-year basis and 20% on a quarter-over-quarter basis in the January-March period as metal was diverted to the U.S.
Source – Reuters
Attorneys representing the San Carlos Apache Tribe are asking the judge to grant an injunction pausing a land swap from the U.S. government to Resolution Copper
During the hearing, attorneys representing the tribe asked a federal judge to grant a temporary injunction pausing an upcoming land swap from the U.S. government to mining giant Resolution Copper.
Attorneys for the tribe argued May 7 that a pause is necessary as the Supreme Court considers whether to take up the case.
Source – ABC 15 Arizona
Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 0.4% at $9,418 a metric ton by 1000 GMT, having hit a peak of $9,481.50 in the previous session for its highest since April 3.
“It’s almost impossible to see what is happening from one day to the next. No doubt the tariff optimism that triggered the risk-on rally early in the week has faded again,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen.
U.S. Comex copper futures gained 0.5% to $4.87 a lb, bringing the premium over LME copper to $1,314 a ton.
Source – Business Recorder
Construction continues to advance on schedule and first copper production is still targeted before the end of 2025. Overall project completion was at 78% as of March 31, 2025.
“The project is in great shape and Florence Copper will soon become a major new supplier of copper cathode for the US market. The project is uniquely positioned to produce and sell refined copper inside the United States and potentially benefit from premium COMEX copper pricing in the coming years.”
Source – Yahoo Finance
BHP warned Thursday that a tariff war could slow the global economy and disrupt world trade, as the world’s biggest miner reported a slight decline in quarterly iron ore production and a 10% rise in copper output due to higher volumes from the giant Escondida mine in Chile.
“Despite the limited direct impact of tariffs on BHP, the implication of slower economic growth and a fragmented trading environment could be more significant,” CEO Mike Henry said. “China’s ability to shift toward a consumption-led economy and for trade flows to adapt to the new environment will be key to sustaining the global outlook.”
Source – Seeking Alpha