From Kolwezi To iPhones: The Cobalt Supply Chain
On the 30th September 2016, The Washington Post published an extremely indepth and informative article on the horrors of the cobalt supply chain in the DRC. We have seen recent breakthroughs in understanding the conflict mineral supply chain, with Amnesty International publishing the first report “This is what we die for” (6 January 2016). The […]
Bauxite Prices Constrained Owing To Surplus Aluminium Stocks
In August Core Consultants reviewed a feasibility study for a bauxite deposit in Guinea. The report focused on the economic feasibility of developing the deposit along with commissioning an alumina smelter and aluminum refinery. In fulfillment of the study, Core Consultants’ considered whether there may be alternative sources of bauxite available and also looked at […]
China Consolidates South Rare Earth Group
Core Consultants released its August 2016 Monthly Rare Earth Report. The main topics discussed in this feature include: China consolidates South Rare Earth Group Development of cerium/aluminium alloy China reducing windpower waste China had a target to establish six rare earth entities by the end of 1H16. At the end of June, the expert panel […]
Nickel Market To Move Into Deficit This Year
This article first appeared on InvestorIntel on the 2nd of August 2016 and describes Core Consultants’ view of the nickel market Nickel has found some strong bidding interest in the last few months for the first time since late 2015. Nickel is a versatile metal element that gives alloys corrosion resistance and the ability to withstand […]
Bauxite Prices Buoyed by Chinese Demand
The article was first published on InvestorIntel and discusses the fact that bauxite prices held up over the last year while those of other commodities fell drastically. As ever, the main driver behind these prices was China, whose demand created a spot market for bauxite. However, given the capital costs associated with smelters and refiners, the […]
Gold Breaks Psychological Barrier Of $1,300/oz
The investor demand for gold as a safe haven asset in 2016 has been well documented with the yellow metal up around 30% so far this year. Gold has recently broken through the psychologically important barrier of $1300/oz and is still finding overall bidding interest despite the slight declines in the price during the last […]
Iran Considers African Bauxite Deposits for Alumina Industry
Overview Based in Iran, our client had invested in a bauxite deposit in Africa. The client had proposed developing an alumina refinery and aluminium deposit in Iran. The report constituted a review of the company’s previous feasibility study and set out to determine whether there may be alternative sources of bauxite available to our client […]
Understanding The Portnex/Zimasco Relationship
Unfortunately when it comes to understanding what is going on in Zimbabwe, discerning what is fact is always challenging. We have therefore sought the correct story from Zimasco and feel that it is necessary to share this with our clients so as to better understand the market situation. As part of its strategy to sweat […]
Zinc Prices Rebound: Vedanta Takes The Gamble
We draw attention to Zinc and its steady rise to a recent thirteen month high to $2,216/tonne on the 15thof July. With the metal generally one of the lesser used of the base metals, zinc last week rose due to concerns over a possible supply deficit. According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group […]
Ferrochrome Second Quarter In Deficit
2Q16 was characterised by an extremely tight market. Many producers had shut down operations globally, including four furnaces in South Africa going bankrupt over the past 8 months. This resulted in the remaining producers selling only on a contractual basis, leaving very minimal stocks available to the spot market for both chrome ore and ferrochrome. […]