The threat of U.S. trade measures against China has weighed on industrial raw materials since the November election, with prices pressured earlier this week when Trump said he could impose a 10% levy on Chinese goods.
Source – Seeking Alpha
Platinum demand outpaced supply by 995,000 ounces last year. That was 46 percent higher than forecast.
Meanwhile, platinum jewelry sales grew by 8 percent in 2024, and investment demand took off, rising by 77 percent.
The WPIC forecasts that jewelry demand will reach 2 million ounces this year, an increase of 2 percent year-on-year.
Source – Money Metals
Analysts estimate that copper demand from energy transition sectors will grow at a CAGR of 10.7%, with the EV sector alone driving a 14.3% increase, solar power 5.6%, and wind applications 9.3%. Overall, the demand for copper is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% through 2034.
Source – Stock News
The 20-coin 2025 Uncirculated Coin Set is slated for sale to the general public by the United States Mint beginning at noon Eastern Time July 17.
The sets are offered at $33.25 each, with a maximum output of 190,000 sets, offered without household order limits.
Each set contains two separate blister-pack folders of 10 coins each, one pack apiece from production at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Coins included in the set have an Uncirculated finish but are struck to higher standards than their circulating counterparts.
Source – Coin World
The precious metal has gained nearly 12% in the year-to-date and is set to benefit from continued macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, alongside potential U.S. interest rate cuts, according to the industry body’s World Silver Survey 2025.
“While ongoing uncertainties elsewhere, along with silver’s healthy supply-demand conditions, will offer support, we do see prices easing back in late 2025.”
Supply is expected to rise by just 2% and demand to ease by only 1%, setting the stage for a 117.6 million ounce deficit.
“We very much expect such a dynamic will emerge eventually, but we feel that a few more years of deficits are needed first to further erode above-ground silver inventories.”
Source – Market Watch
Copper production from Chile’s state-run miner Codelco, the world’s largest producer of the metal, jumped nearly 17% in November, helping to boost overall output of the metal in the mineral-rich nation by some 10%, data from copper commission Cochilco showed on Friday.
Taking Friday’s results into account, Chile’s total production in November was up 9.8% to 486,200 tons, Cochilco said.
Source – Mining.com
President Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have now targeted the San Francisco Mint for closure in a bid to sell the real estate on which the National Register of Historic Places structure stands, theoretically to reduce government expenses.
Mint-wide, the bureau has already trimmed more than 100 full-time staffers, with an edict from DOGE to trim another 200, while the bureau wrestles with vacancies, some of which still need to be filled. Many of the positions trimmed were resolved through resignations and retirements.
Closing the San Francisco Mint could affect the production of many numismatic products, such as Proof sets, silver Proof sets, Proof commemorative coins and Matte silver presidential medals.
Source – Coin World
