Chile’s state-owned Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, said on Wednesday it would supply copper concentrates to India’s Adani Group’s $1.2 billion smelter, the world’s biggest single-location plant of its type.
The supply will begin this year, said Codelco
Codelco also separately signed a preliminary agreement with Hindustan Copper to cooperate on exploring and processing minerals.
Source – Reuters
Gold prices rose on Friday and were on track for a seventh consecutive weekly gain as worries over a potential global trade war intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for reciprocal tariffs.
Spot gold was up 0.3% at $2,936.99 an ounce by 1104 GMT, taking its weekly advance to 2.6%. Bullion hit a record peak of $2,942.70 on Tuesday.
U.S. gold futures rose 0.6% to $2,961.30.
In other precious metals, spot silver gained nearly 3% to $33.30 an ounce and platinum added 1% to $1,004.57 while palladium dipped by 0.2% to $992.00.
Source – Reuters
Gold prices have steadied after surging to a record high amid early signs of consolidation following the rally built on fears around U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
The precious metal eased to close at $3,287.72 an ounce on Wednesday, down 6.1% from the all-time peak of $3,500.05 hit on April 22.
Total gold investment flows sky-rocketed by 170% in the first quarter of 2025 from the same period a year earlier, reaching 552 metric tons, the highest since the first quarter in 2022, the WGC said in its report on Wednesday.
Source – Reuters
“I am pleased to announce Q4-2024 and January 2025 production results, achieving 2024 production guidance and highlighting a significant step-change in output and an 77% month-over-month increase from December 2024 to January 2025. This strong performance is driven by improving recoveries and the successful ramp-up of the new Zgounder plant, which is operating above nameplate capacity, alongside the open pit, which continues to exceed expectations,” stated President & CEO Benoit La Salle. “Month-over-month improvements across the integrated operations at Zgounder reflect disciplined execution and operational strength, positioning us for sustained production growth and record profitability in 2025.”
Source – Globe Newswire / Yahoo Finance
Mining in Peru’s northern district of Pataz will be suspended for 30 days, President Dina Boluarte said on Monday, after 13 gold mine workers in the area were kidnapped and killed by illegal miners.
On Sunday, miner Poderosa said the bodies of 13 workers from a local firm, R&R, which held a mining contract with Poderosa, had been recovered by police after they were kidnapped last month.
“The armed forces will take control of the area where Poderosa operates,” Boluarte said, but did not provide details on how the mining pause would work.
Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer, but the deposits of the red metal are largely in the south. Gold and silver are mined in the north.
Jorge Montoro, said the 30-day pause could be extended.
Source – Reuters
Gold inched higher on Thursday in holiday-thinned trade, as investors focused on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy and anticipated tariff policies under President-elect Donald Trump, both of which could influence the metal’s direction in the coming year.
Source – Daksh Grover / Reuters
Benchmark LME copper futures are more than 9% higher so far this year, and Comex copper is 16% higher YTD, with the Comex now trading at a 10%-12% premium over LME, and Morgan Stanley analysts see more room for growth.
“We stay constructive on copper, our preferred base metal,” Morgan Stanley wrote. “Fundamentals and price signals are positive, and inventories are tightening as metal gets pulled to the U.S. Tariffs may bring demand concerns in the future, but for now physical markets continue to tighten.”
Source – Seeking Alpha