Crucible

The MMTA International Minor Metals Conference 2024   In this issue you will find information about the MMTA’s International Minor Metals Conference, including programme and speakers and members standing for…

The European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act was published today in the Official Journal of the European Commission and comes in to force on 23 May. Read the full text…

An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable (John Locke, philosopher 1632 – 1704) In this op-ed for The Crucible, Ingrid Putkonen, Managing Director and Founder of…

MMTA member Less Common Metals, a British producer of rare earth magnetic alloys, has had a busy year. The MMTA caught up with LCM general manager Aaron Riley to ask…

Welcome to Singapore! Here are this week’s conference schedule and speakers: Conference Schedule Wednesday 17 April 2024 07.30hrs – 15:30hrs Golf Tournament kindly sponsored by ICD Group will take place at the…

Less than 1% of the 20 million-tonne manganese produced each year is used in batteries, but the battery industry is disrupting the manganese market as increases to demand from the…

In this opinion piece, Caroline Messecar, Strategic Markets Editor for technology metals, Fastmarkets, delves deeply into the complex, confusing and sometimes counter-intuitive world of rare earth commodity prices. And she…

Recent reporting on conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), based in part on the UN Security Council’s Group of Experts report of December 2023 and in part…

The DoE Delivers, Australia goes to the Middle East and Governments Look at Space Dear Members I’m just back from a monster (for me) European trip — nearly three weeks…

News spotlight In the last two weeks of March, representatives form 36 member countries of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN regulator tasked with protecting marine life in international…

European magnesium prices have been under acute pressure since the start of the year because of oversupply in China and weak demand in domestic and international markets, leading in-warehouse Rotterdam…

Retired metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   It’s all very well giving unwanted advice to the young via this column (as…

András Szép (1957-2024), was one of a group of talented metal merchants who came to prominence – and survived – from the era of 1990s post-communism. I came to know…

FOM work never so vital At the end of April our first elective of 2024, a medical student from the University of Edinburgh, travels to Mufulira in Zambia. She will…

The Minor Metals Trade Association’s Annual General Meeting is taking place on Thursday 18th April ahead of the first conference session. The following MMTA members are standing for election to…

 ILiA publishes the first guidance to determine the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of lithium products In this article, first published in its magazine, The Lithium Voice, the International Lithium Association…

Dear MMTA Members, Welcome to your February-March edition of the MMTA magazine, the Crucible. After the Lunar New Year holidays in February, that are already feeling like a lifetime ago,…

View from North America Dear Members, I trust this missive finds everybody safe and well. Polina and I have been chatting over several weeks and have come up with a…

Amid the global energy transition, battery-grade iron phosphate has captured increasing market interest as the precursor used to make lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP demand is growing from electric…

Notes from the other side Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   His entire family from the east of Poland had been…

Join the MMTA board At the forthcoming MMTA AGM on 18th April elections will be held for new members joining the MMTA board. The MMTA would greatly welcome applications from…

ICD Group, global leaders in the recycling, manufacturing and distribution of speciality materials, has announced the formation of a new subsidiary, ICD Superalloys Australia Pty Ltd. ICD Superalloys Australia will…

Xplore! Science Discovery Centre to deliver educational workshops on rare earth metals for green technology The ‘Mine to Magnet’ School Workshop, the first of its kind, has received funding from…

What the shipping industry should be aware of The European Union’s 12th package of sanctions against Rus-sia has come into force on 19 February 2024, following adop-tion by the European…

Bluestone Metals & Chemicals joins the MMTA Bluestone Metals & Chemicals, part of the SMR – Specialty Metals Resources Group, has joined the MMTA. Established in 2014, Bluestone is a…

It is with deep sadness that we share with you the news of the sudden passing of Jim McCombie on 17th February 2024.  Jim was a veteran of the minor…

As the International Magnesium Association looks ahead to the 2024 World Conference, we’re sharing some highlights from the World Conference in 2023, held in Calgary. The conference provided a comprehensive…

In this section we bring you the latest briefings from our partner association, the CRM Alliance on legislative developments in the European union that impact of critical raw material  industries…

Happy New Year 2024   And welcome to this year’s first edition of the Crucible. As we look forward to 2024, new regulations are already coming into play that encompass…

What, you may ask, drives us at the MMTAs Charity, Friends of Mufulira, to plug away to support the community in Mufulira, Zambia?  Perhaps anyone attending the MMTAs anniversary dinner…

China imposes graphite export restrictions Export restrictions on key anode materials highlight the dominance of China in the battery sector, and the case for localised supply chains In October 2023,…

The six Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) represent a diverse set of metals. They share many chemical and physical properties, including being noble metals resistant to being corrupted by common acids.…

The Minor Metals Trade Association is looking for an Administration Assistant to support the Association’s activities. The Association is looking for an organised and pro-active Administrative Assistant to take on…

  Notes from the other side Retired  metal merchant Anthony Lipmann illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   So, you’ve been offered your first job – terrific!…

MMTA member TuocaiTech has started the new year with a great news that, their 6N+ gallium (Ga) has been officially qualified by a premier gallium arsenide (GaAs) wafer producer outside…

What about 2024? Dear Members, With 2024 upon us, I thought I would look quickly at a couple of areas I shall be keeping an eye on in the coming…

China’s share of global polysilicon production is estimated to have reached 90% in 2023. However, some producers located outside China are restarting production to meet increased domestic demand. Notable examples…

MMTA News Dan Bowman steps down Dan Bowman is stepping down as MMTA board director and the Association’s Treasurer, due to leaving MMTA member Avon Metals. The MMTA would like…

Memorandum   In brief At the end of 2023, the European Commission published the list of default values for the goods affected by CBAM. Aluminium, a critical raw material (CRM),…

Swiss companies Tesenso and StockScan  provide raw materials supply chain management solutions. In this article, they outline the service they provide, how it can help  ESG compliance in the metals…

After months of deliberations, the European Parliament voted in the second week of December 2023 to adopt the Critical Raw Materials Act. The key aim of this legislation, aside from…

Heneken Group, has had a busy year in 2023, and since becoming a member of the MMTA. The Slovakian company has grown from its roots as a trader and master…

Welcome to the November Crucible Dear MMTA members, Welcome to your November 2023 edition of the Minor Metal Trade Association’s magazine, the Crucible. Following on from the October webinar, Mastering…

On the heels of the Metals Events 19th Rare Earths Conference in  San Antonio, Texas, USA, in October, Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton, analysts at CPM Group, delve into the…

Fastmarkets has relaunched rare earth prices and coverage after a pause of several years. The Crucible asked Strategic Markets Editor for Technology Metals, Caroline Messecar, to talk about why a…

A beginner’s guide for minor metals professionals In a recent CarbonChain-MMTA webinar, we dived deep into the world of carbon reporting for minor metals. Here, Julie Sandilands, Head of Carbon…

The US Government and Critical Materials   Dear MMTA Members,   Good afternoon, once again from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. And it is a stunning afternoon here: crisp, bright and with…

The tantalum industry is a very small place, so the news that one of the major tantalum processors, Global Advanced Metals (GAM) is for sale might strike one initially as…

Notes from the other side Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   Early in my career I was reproached by a…

The molybdenum market story in 2023 has been one of volatility and uncertain demand-supply outlook. With a less dramatic downside seen from September, S & P Global  here unpicks the…

Information and Networking Events in London   Monday 9th October   LME Metals Seminar 2023 07.50 – 15.20 Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE and online.  MMTA…

Economics is a curious discipline, a social science under a veneer of scientific and mathematical rigour. A scientific sheep in wolf’s clothing, perhaps. A synthesis of art and science. That…

Silicon-based semiconductors have dominated the ongoing “semiconductor war” between China and the West. However, in their recent technological tit-for-tat, global attention has been diverted to non-silicon-based or compound semiconductors, especially…

By 2033, 10% of metal supply to come from battery recycling The lithium-ion battery recycling market has experienced significant growth in the past 18 months, particularly in the US and…

EU votes to adopt the CRM Act On 14th September the European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority to adopt the Critical Raw Materials Act. The amended act adds aluminium…

As Tom Butcher reports in this issue of The Crucible, by 2026, Australia is projected to need 24,400 more workers in its mining industry. But the numbers of graduates on …

Miners Face Talent Shortage—Part 2   Dear MMTA Members Good afternoon, once again Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Before continuing my look at the talent shortage facing the mining industry, here in…

In October, Ukrainian-owned company MPS Technology, is launching new ferro-titanium production in Poland. The factory in Częstochowa began operating in 2020 with two production lines dedicated to processing titanium turnings…

CarbonChain Webinar, Thursday 19 October, 10-11am BST On 1 October, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanist (CBAM) came into force in its trial phase in the European Union. Affected importers…

A long-standing member of the MMTA, Alfred H Knight (AHK) has enabled global trade for over 140 years. They instil trust and certainty in the global supply chain through the…

In August this year, the Chinese government introduced export licencing on a range of gallium and germanium products, citing national security. Amid a lack of clarity  about the impact, Argus…

How medical and economic health go together The MMTAs twinned relationship with Mufulira in which we send NHS medical students to the Ronald Ross General Hospital in Zambia is multifunctional.…

The history of human civilisation can be told through metal smelting, from the Copper to the Bronze to the Iron Age, and onwards. And, since civilisations are communities and economies,…

In June this year the Australian Government released its Critical Minerals Strategy for the period to 2030. In this guest article, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission  (Austrade) sets out…

Dear Members, We are excited to announce the Minor Metals Trade Association has partnered with CarbonChain to help drive the metals industry towards a more sustainable future. CarbonChain is an…

As we enter the busiest trading season of the second half of 2023, Project Blue looks at what lies ahead for critical materials in the rest of 2023 The major…

In this article for The Crucible, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence looks at the market for the secondary battery material mix known as “black mass”, the fundamentals and forecasts that underpin its…

On May 1st of this year, according to press reports, soldiers of the army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) descended on the east of the country to…

Dear Members Good Afternoon! Once again, a Sunday afternoon here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. We have been so lucky. Maybe a few warm days (92°F or so), but nothing like…

  Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   Last night I dreamt I was short of …ium – a metal we…

The Minor Metals Trade Association is happy to announce that the MMTA’s International Minor Metals Conference 2024 will be held on 17-19th April 2024 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore.…

At the end of July, the MMTA welcomed VIMET AG as its member. Established in 2021 by traders with many years in commodity markets and logistics. VIMET AG is a…

The MMTA is pleased to announce out new member Corpay, a leading provider of global online payment solutions. Global businesses trust Corpay Cross-Border to power their international payments, execute plans…

The MMTA is delighted to welcome Shuyan Peng, Supply Chain Manager, Indium Corp to its Asia Committee and looks forward to her valuable input as committee member. Ahead of the…

China brings in Ga, Ge export permitting  From 1 August, the Chinese government announced that eight products related to gallium and six to germanium will require export permits, citing national…

Welcome to the May-June Crucible issue. With our premier annual event, the International Minor Metals Conference  and the MMTA annual general meeting now behind us—see this issue for the conference…

25-26 April 2023 Charlotte, NC, USA   Day 1 – Tuesday, April 25 For delegates who had neither played golf at the Bermuda Run Country Club (kindly sponsored by ICD…

The Trade Journalist we deserved   Trevor Tarring, who died at the end of April aged 90, was a towering figure in the metals industry, and a great friend of…

  In many respects, niobium’s properties resemble those of its chemical cousin tantalum, but nearly always in a way that disappoints. Niobium is chemically resistant to mineral acids, it can…

  What makes vanadium critical? Vanadium ranks 10/40 in Project Blue’s Critical Materials Risk Index (CMRI) 2022.   Concerns over vanadium supply availability are underpinned by its co-product nature.  Vanadium feedstock…

Price and output analysis In 2022, China tightened rules on environmental protection and operational safety. Since Pan-Asia APT inventory was nearly exhausted, and the inventory of various Chinese enterprises was…

The MMTA thanks Simon Boon and Chris Edler, who stepped down from the board  at the 2023 AGM after both serving a nine-year term, for their invaluable service to the…

MMTA Charity Update Anthony Lipmann reports on the resumption of MMTAs Friends of Mufulira electives programme.   We are, in the UK, acutely aware of criticism of our health system.…

Rachel Carnac pays tribute to Trevor Tarring   I always remember being at Metal Bulletin for about three weeks and Trevor asking me for an update on the copper concentrates…

Polina Sparks recalls Trevor Tarring’s newsroom   At the old Metal Bulletin offices in Lower Marsh, Trevor’s presence and guidance were always felt, even once he stepped back from the…

Next week (24-2 April) we look forward to welcoming our members and guests at the MMTA International Minor Metals Conference in Charlotte, NC, USA. Join us for our Anniversary Reception…

Aerospace US aircraft manufacturer Boeing delivered 64 commercial jets to its customers in March, making it the second best month in the past two years after the end-of-year push in…

The European Union’s new Critical Raw Materials Act is a bold step forward in securing the region’s clean energy supply chains. Here, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence looks at how the Act’s…

Glencore woos Teck As this issue of the Crucible was heading to print, Swiss commodities giant Glencore sweetened its takeover approach to Canadian miner Teck Resources, which looked determined to…

Project Blue looks at  the evolving role of lithium in energy transition, and the opportunities and challenges that make lithium this decade’s key critical raw material   This month we…

Notes from the other side Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   In the March issue of the Crucible, we delved…

Less Common Metals, based in the UK, is one of a handful of companies in the Western world commercially producing the highly specialised strip cast alloys and HD powders needed…

Dear Members Good Morning! Once again, a Sunday morning here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The weather’s actually quite decent at the moment: a bit of a change. Although we still…

We are delighted that MMTA’s Friends of Mufulira charity has resumed bursaries this year to send four final year medical students for their overseas elective. The first two, Niamh Johnson…

Global natural resources Glencore, a major producer, recycler, and marketer of key battery metals, has announced an intention to partner, jointly with FCC Ámbito and Iberdrola, on establishing a lithium-ion…

Stephen Hall, Advanced Alloy Services Ltd Standing for re election to the MMTA Board and for the  position of Chair Stephen Hall graduated with Materials Science and Engineering Honours Degree…

Notes from the other side: Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals. The inaugural meeting of The Minor Metals Traders* Association (now…

Welcome to the March issue of The Crucible. In the February issue you might have read Tom Butcher’s Letter from North America on the increasingly trendy concept of “friend-shoring”. This…

In Part 2 of this series for The Crucible, analysts Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton of CPM Group examine what transport electrification means for minor metals   CPM Group analysts…

Molybdenum is consumed in a broad array of chemical and metallurgical applications spanning the energy, transport, construction, chemical, medical and electronics industries. CRU’s Samuel Hayes discusses the ongoing supply deficit and…

This month Project Blue is looking more closely at two of the rare earths underpinning energy transition: dysprosium and terbium. Dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) are two elements that form…

Molybdenum is an important industrial raw material. Due to molybdenum’s high strength, high melting point, resistance to corrosion and abrasion and other characteristics, stainless steel’ corrosion resistance can be improved…

A “Pincer” Movement to Secure Supply Chains? Dear Members   Good Morning! Once again, a Sunday morning here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The weather’s actually quite decent at the moment:…

The TCG held its plenary session on 28 February. Julia Tiskowiec summarises the proceedings for the MMTA.   EU Customs Reform Aim: The upcoming customs reform is described as a…

The UK and Canadian governments today unveiled a co-operation agreement on critical minerals such as cobalt and lithium, vital to modern and green technologies, from solar panels to electric vehicles.…

Join us for the MMTA’s 50th anniversary reception with outdoor games on the terrace of Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charlotte, NC, at 6pm on Tuesday 24 April, at the opening…

In Part 1 of this series for The Crucible analysts Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton of CPM Group tackle the tension at the heart of Net Zero’s reliance on minor…

Notes from the other side… Retired metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   I’m often asked what skills are required to be…

  Indonesia’s ascendance to the heart of the lithium-ion battery supply chain has been incredible; a rise that has fundamentally challenged many of the mining industry’s long-held beliefs.   To…

    MMTA member Scandinavian Steel has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for long-term molybdenum supply with Canadian-based Greenland Resources from the latter’s Malmbjerg project in Greenland.  …

Several high-temperature minor metal markets are emerging from a volatile few months, with hafnium and molybdenum prices surging as supply constraints bite, while niobium and tantalum navigate a more gradual…

Major moves in Michigan As mentioned in the January Crucible, lithium never sleeps. And neither does the rampant new trend of onshoring, and “friend-shoring”, heralded in particular by North America…

Aerospace A more than £2bn increase in turnover at Rolls-Royce, yielding higher operating profits in 2022, boosted its shares even as the new ceo. Ex-BP Tufan Erginbilgic, sounded a warning…

MMTA News   In light of our work progress over the past year and current priorities, the MMTA board has decided to retire the News Spot-light Group and to reconvene…

MMTA member CCMA is pleased to announce the hiring of Karolina Jackiewicz as Trader – Special Metals, Europe.   Karolina will add to CCMA’s growing international presence in the area…

  Friend-shoring? Yes, friend-shoring.   Dear Members   Good Morning! Another Sunday morning here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Rather than looking out on a world covered in snow and nippy…

2023 Strategic Foresight Report—deadline 13 March   The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to inform its  2023 Strategic Foresight Report. This report is published every year, and…

  In a recent case, the High Court considered* whether a vessel owner could disregard a charterer’s voyage instruction without interrupting demurrage.   The dispute centred around two instances where…

  Two relatively recent cases remind us of the possible limits of “reserving your rights” in certain situations.    For Mr Justice Baker, in the 2018 case Phones 4u Ltd (In…

The Court of Appeal held that an exclusion of liability clause did not prohibit a claim for wasted expenditure. The clause in the spotlight was as follows:   “… neither…

In 2023 the MMTA celebrates its 50th anniversary   Happy New Year! Dear MMTA members, We would like to start this 2023 issue of by wishing you a happy and…

  In this article for The Crucible, analysts Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton of CPM Group home in on Hafnium, that most minor of minor metals. Don’t judge a market…

Resources: Protect of Promote? Dear Members. Good Morning and a very Happy New Year! This Sunday morning, here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, I am looking out on only a little…

In this submission to the Crucible on the subject of critical materials underpinning energy transition, Project Blue focusses on scandium.    What makes scandium critical? Scandium ranks 24/40 in Project…

Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   Sheffield and Donetsk  ̶  more in common than you think   My godfather was…

    Selenium is a non-metallic element, but it also belongs with minor metals. It can be used as a photosensitive material, decolourising agent in glass, electrolytic manganese industry catalyst,…

Aerospace Airbus overtook Boeing on aircraft deliveries in 2022 by 38%, despite falling short of its 700 planes target , which it gave up as unrealistic before the year end.…

In January, we are pleased to welcome our newest member, Heneken Group. Based in Bratislava, Slovakia, Heneken started as a trading company in 2007 trading aluminum and its alloys. Continuous…

In December, the MMTA welcomed Neveah Limited as a new member. Headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, Neveah Limited engages in the Export of both base and Minor metals. Its product offerings…

  Report by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, CNIA   The China Strategic Minor Metals Forum was hosted by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and co-organized by Zhuzhou Keneng New…

Karolina Jackiewicz has informed us that she is leaving MMTA member Lipmann Walton. She is relocating from the UK to the Netherlands,  and we very much look forward to hearing…

  CA holds that express wording not required to release fraud in a settlement agreement    Background  MRL referred a case to the Court of Appeal in relation to the…

  “Pay now, argue later” clause survives legal challenge   Upholding the terms of a partial final award of an arbitration tribunal, the English High Court has found* that a…

Report from the Critical Raw Materials Association   15 November 2022 5th EU Critical Raw Materials Event   Kamila Slupek, Sustainability Director, Eurometaux Ms. Slupek presented Eurometaux’ study with KU…

Go, Go, Gallium After several false starts, NASA’s Artemis I mission took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 16 November, the first in a series of complex missions…

Norwegian-based manufacturer  rare earth elements (REE) manufacturer REETec, has raised € 115mln ($119mln) financing to build an industrial scale plant for separating rare earths in Herøya, near Porsgrunn in Norway.…

A feasibility study carried out by Less Common Metals (LCM) has confirmed that it is feasible to establish a rare earth per-manent magnet production facility in the UK to service…

  MMTA member London Chemicals and Resources Ltd has been recognised by the latest Plimsoll industry analysis as one of the UK’s top 100 Chemical Distributors in terms of size,…

In October, we welcomed Coventry University as the MMTA’s first Academic Affiliate member. The university is committed to Education for Sustainable Development, and since 2015 has retained the Responsible Futures…

Hafnium prices have surged since September as firm demand from the aerospace, industrial gas turbine (IGT) and semiconductor industries rapidly outpaces supply, and buyers attempt to navigate this notoriously illiquid…

Chris Brzozowski, commercial director of ICD Europe Ltd has been approved to join the MMTA Board of Directors, subject to his board membership being ratified by the MMTA members at…

Following the announcement of the proposed  EU Critical Raw Materials Act (see The Crucible, September 2022), the European Commission invited views on the proposed legislation (see The Crucible, October 2022)…

Good Morning! This Sunday morning, here in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, I am looking out on around six inches of pristine snow. We have been hit by part of a large…

Aerospace Supply chain deliveries have plague both US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and its European rival Airbus this year, and deliveries continue to be running late as the end of year…

Part 10: Standing at the threshold Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals. As you pause at the threshold of your career,…

Following UK sanctions placed on Russian businessman Iskander Makhmudov on 26 September, the MMTA has sought clarification from the Department for International Trade on implications for trading with the businessman’s…

  In a recent judgment1, the English Court found that interest rate swap transactions (“IRS”) entered into by the Municipality of Venice (“Venice”) were void, in that Venice lacked capacity…

On 25 October 2022 MMTA partnered with critical minerals consultancy Project Blue for a series of insights into minor metals critical to energy transition and other strategic sectors, Project Blue Forum.…

BIMCO publishes its CMII clause   The IMO’s new carbon intensity regulations are due to come into force on 1 January 2023.  To assist owners and charterers, on 17 November…

Background K Line agreed to supply a minimum amount of business to JKL, who managed the import/export of K Line’s containers in the UK. Following a restructuring by K Line…

MMTA 49th Anniversary Dinner The MMTA 49th anniversary dinner will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the magnificent De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London. The beautiful…

Dear Members I’m back! And it is great to be writing to you again. Robust supply chains for, and an adequate supply of, strategic and critical materials are, once more,…

Forging ahead with titanium   As US seeks to cut its dependence in titanium, critical for aviation and military industries, on imports, particularly from Russia, long overdue investments in domestic…

In this submission to the Crucible on the subject of critical materials underpinning energy transition, Project Blue focusses on cobalt.  While there are numerous challenges facing the cobalt supply chain,…

    As one who pays superficial attention to the booming battery industry, I’m struck by the frequency with which new technologies are touted that are “set to replace lithium-ion…

The rising fuel and energy costs have created a crunch for UK businesses and energy intensive industries in particular. The MMTA asked the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy…

Growing demand for batteries means that significant volumes of batteries deployed to transport, portable and energy storage system applications will reach their end-of-life in the coming decades, posing the question:…

Aerospace Airbus pushed ahead of Boeing on in Q3, delivering 140 passenger aircraft including 46 in July, 39 in August and 53 in September. This compared with 112 deliveries from…

  Whether we’re talking about metal trading or the MMTA’s medical charity,  Friends of Mufulira, perseverance can make all the difference. In the case of Friends of Mufulira (FOM), we…

This month’s feature analysis from China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association  (CNIA) and China’s leading mining and metal industry consultancy Bejing Antaike Information examines China’s growing presence in  global  ITO target…

Part 9: Weighing words (not metal) Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals. It’s a funny old thing – the metal trade.…

MMTA member Wuhan Xinrong New Materials Co Ltd has rebranded as TuocaiTech. TuocaiTech’s new member page is here As the world transitions to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, TuocaiTech enables the…

We regret to inform you that the MMTA board has received the resignation of Donna Vareha-Walsh as chair of the MMTA, effective from 7th October 2022. Donna has moved to…

We are pleased to announce that John E Porter has been approved to join the MMTA Board of Directors.  His position is subject to being ratified at the MMTA’s next…

Can crypto be security? In Tulip Trading v Bitcoin Association for BSV,[1] the High Court considered whether to order security in the form of digital assets such as Bitcoin. Background…

On 26 September, the UK government placed new sanctions in connection with the war in Ukraine on several Russian businessmen “for supporting or obtaining benefit from the Government of Russia…

Background The case arose out of a JV for the operation of a Russian coalmine with 3 investors, including NDK, which held a 75% share in an SPV registered in…

The MMTA and its membership are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned as Monarch of the United Kingdom for almost 70 years. The…

On 21 September 2022, global materials technology and recycling company Umicore inaugurated Europe’s first gigafactory — its new plant producing cathode active materials for electric vehicles in Nysa, Poland. This…

  With high gas and electricity prices battering Europe, UK and EU governments announced winter support, including temporary caps on prices for domestic and business consumers. EU measures unveiled on…

The passing of the US Inflation Reduction Act puts US automakers under pressure to localise their battery raw material supply in North America or secure  supply from countries such as…

Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young entering the world of metals.   Part 9: Making mistakes   There’s a theory that making mistakes is great for…

Aerospace After a two-year pause, Boeing resumed deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner after recertification. This helped take Boeing total aircraft deliveries to 35 in August from 26 in July and…

This month Project Blue takes a look at the previous poster child of critical materials: antimony. Antimony, mainly used in flame retardant and lead-acid batteries has lost its position as…

CPM Group is an independent commodities research, consulting, and investment banking advisory company headquartered in New York. In this analysis, CPM’s tantalum market experts Andrew Matheson and Patrick Stratton dig…

A-level student Rachel Higgins recently spent two weeks on work experience  at MMTA member company, UK rare earth processor Less Common Metals. There she divided her time between different departments…

It has come to the MMTA’s attention that some members have experienced delays this year in getting their metal shipments cleared through Italian customs as they required additional radiometric testing.…

A collaboration between the two leading UK industry events, this years’ RWM & Letsrecycle Live joined up to form the UK’s single largest event for the recycling, resource and wider…

The US Department of Defense has awarded two grants worth $200,000 to Perpetua Resources to study the potential for military-grade antimony production from its Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho. If…

UK-based prospective rare earth producer Pensana has partnered with Volvo’s electric vehicles spin-off Polestar on its project to create the first truly climate-neutral car by 2030. The scope of the…

  HFW Briefing   The Paris Agreement 2015 established that, if the global increase in average temperatures is to be halted, nations would need to reduce their greenhouse emissions.1  As…

  The Court of Appeal has recently considered and upheld a previous High Court decision, finding that a firm of solicitors were not able to rely on privileged communications with…

The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 implies a term into certain business contracts for the supply of goods and services so to allow a creditor a right…

The UK government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy aims to  safeguard the UK’s supply security for critical raw materials. The strategy will be informed by the newly set up Critical Minerals…

To the Moon and back Further to June’s space exploration highlights, August saw NASA readying its Artemis Moon mission for launch.  The Space Launch System rocket pictured here will send…

Aerospace This year it was the turn of Farnborough in the UK to host the International Airshow, and Boeing was the clear winner on order numbers. During the show, Boeing…

Member Benefits!!! - Please check with Conference organisers for any date changes ARGUS MEDIA Six-week free trial for Argus Metals International’s publications: Minor & Specialty Metals Battery Materials Monthly outlook…

This month we are diving deep into one of the most politically topical critical materials underpinning energy transition: rare earths. While not gaining attention as a battery raw material, rare…

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has transformed the outlook for a host of minor metals, none more so than lithium. There are a wide range of opinions and projections as…

The UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy was launched in July at the ground breaking ceremony for the $195m Pensana’s rare earth refinery at Saltend Chemicals Park near Hull. This will be the UK’s…

Gallium is widely used in photoelectric devices, semiconductors, permanent magnets, photovoltaics, and other fields, due to its good superconductivity, ductility, optical properties, and excellent thermal shrinkage and cold expansion properties.…

If you think trade sanctions, the battle for critical metals and the race to secure a local supply chain is all a modern headache, read on.  A recently discovered time…

Part 8: Bonus time Retired  metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates trading for the young about to enter the world of metals   So, it’s bonus time and you have been…

BIMCO’s Force Majeure Clause 20221 is a generic clause which can be modified for inclusion in a range of contracts. This may include sale agreements and charterparties.   Highlights  Where…

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence brings clarity to the otherwise opaque markets of the lithium-ion battery (LiB) and electric vehicle (EV) supply chains. Through its services, ranging from PRA, Data, Forecasts and…

Two recent court cases shed light on interpreting contractual notice requirements MUR v RTI* A notice given pursuant to a force majeure clause in a contract of affreightment was found…

MMTA chair and Indium Corporation’s Director of Global Supply Chain and International Trade Compliance, Donna Vareha-Walsh, has been elected to the American Tin Trade Association board of directors.  The American Tin…

MMTA member and a leading manufacturer of rare earth metals and alloys, Less Common Metals Ltd (LCM) has appointed Albert Slot as its joint Managing Director.   Previously Director of…

3D printing, lithium power NASA’s Moon mission   As this edition was going to press, NASA launched its CAPSTONE satellite to the Moon. This is the first step of the…

Sticking to outliers in metal choices to kick off the topic of critical materials underpinning energy transition, Project Blue’s second submission to the Crucible is chromium. While most metals, including…

Aerospace As in April, aircraft deliveries by Boeing in May were more than double those of the same month last year, at 35 planes compared with 17. Deliveries up to…

Part 7: Trade metals and see the world! Retired metal merchant, Anthony Lipmann, illuminates metal trading for the young entering the world of metals.   I had a metal friend…

by REACHReady Following the departure of Great Britain from the EU and with the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, EU chemicals regulations such as REACH, the…

Securing stable magnesium supply has become a priority for policymakers after an acute shortage of material in late 2021, panellists said at the EIT Raw Materials Summit in Berlin. “To…

Rhenium is a refractory metal with a melting point of 3180 °C. It has good plasticity, mechanical properties and creep resistance, as well as corrosion resistance. Rhenium is widely used…

The reflective loss principle prevents a shareholder from seeking to recover a loss from a wrongdoer which merely reflects the loss suffered by the company it is interested in. Over…

Argus exclusive interview: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent shockwaves through the global supply of titanium. What are the long-term geopolitical implications for future trade with the region? In an…

Niobium might seem like a strange choice for Project Blue’s first submission to the Crucible on the subject of critical materials underpinning energy transition. After all, it’s mostly used in…

Global minor metal supply chains are currently grappling with a multitude of issues. Covid-19, war in Ukraine, climate change and net zero targets, and inflation, have all converged in 2022.…

One of my many bosses (and some reading this will recognize who it is) appeared to enjoy scanning the torrent of uncontrollable contracts with a forensic eye. Occasionally, pipe in…

The High Court held that an instruction to an expert auditor was not protected by litigation privilege, but that a solicitor’s witness statement did not waive privilege over several documents.…

US rig count numbers have now risen each month since August 2020, demonstrating strong US drilling activity, and robust demand for associated oilfield materials. Aerospace Boeing reported substantially stronger year-on-year…

Indium and its compounds are widely used in optoelectronics. The most well-known indium-based compounds are indium antimonide (InSb), indium phosphide (InP), indium arsenide (InAs), etc. Among these compounds, InSb is…

New Stream entered into a contract to sell diesel to Nord Naphtha. New Stream later gave notification of a force majeure event and eventually Nord terminated the contract due to…

Hydrovolt JV begins battery recycling in Norway Hydrovolt, the battery recycling joint-venture between battery maker Northvolt and aluminium group Hydro, has commenced commercial recycling operations in Fredrikstad, southern Norway. Hydrovolt…

The MMTA is pleased to welcome its newest member, VERITEK NIGERIA. VERITEK is a privately-owned British company, with its Head Office in the UK and  regional African head office in…

The world of minor metals can be a cruel and unforgiving place. As valuable as these metals are, global markets are small. Tantalum is essential in every computer logic chip.…

AGM Minutes 2022 Final pdf

Passenger traffic to return to 2019 levels in 2023-2024, and a return to long-term growth trends a few years thereafter — Boeing Aerospace The major commercial airframers, Boeing and Airbus,…

After a pause of three years, since I provided my round-up of the MMTA’s Edinburgh conference back in 2019, it is a huge pleasure to be able to do the…

Detailed minutes: Trade Contact Group – ad hoc meeting related to Ukraine/Russia The Commission and the EU Delegation to Russia announced the following points:   The EU has put in…

In our monthly column for the MMTA, we will be shining the spotlight on a different minor metal each edition, looking at current market conditions and themes for the year…

  Tellurium is one of the scattered metalloids. It is mainly used in semiconductor devices, alloys, chemical raw materials production, or used as additives in cast iron, rubber, glass, and…

The Court of Appeal held that recovery of damages for wasted expenditure did not fall within a clause excluding damages for loss of profit. Background The case related to an…

Over the last 30 years, Less Common Metals has regularly hit the headlines with its expertise in the rare earth industry. Today, LCM is the only company in the western…

Kymera buys AmeriTi Manufacturing In early April, speciality materials company Kymera announced it had closed its transaction to acquire AmeriTi Manufacturing. Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, AmeriTi is a leading manufacturer…

In just a few days, the MMTA is delighted to be welcoming members and delegates in person to the historic UK city of Sheffield for the International Minor Metals Conference…

Scandium has long been considered an “if” metal. If only it were available in quantity, it could transform aircraft production and fuel consumption. If only it were available in quantity,…

Dear MMTA Members, I am happy to be joining the MMTA in Member Services. My life in metals started in 1998 as a reporter at Metal Bulletin, where I eventually…