Of particular interest this week:
Indonesia: references to the bans on exports of unprocessed ores, concentrates. Copper Nickel, & Tin.
Iron ore: Chinese output shrinking heavily.
Coal: Thermal prices increasing. Issues with Indonesian royalties, river transport.
Coal: Australian thermal coal is tight short term. Indonesia changing the quality rules (again).
SUMMARY
Copper Freeport Indonesia commits to build a Cu smelter, to retain its export permit.
Nickel Indonesian companies (2x) to build nickel-pig iron smelters.
Zinc & Lead Sabre Resources – Zn-Pb discovery. Heron Resources – Woodlawn (Cu-Zn) mine.
Tin Indonesia: Plan to suspend tin exports to prop up the LME prices. Not likely to work.
Aluminium China targeting aluminium oversupply.
Gold Demand for gold hit 5 yr low in 2014, having fallen annually since peaking in 2011.
Platinum & Palladium Zimbabwe National Army to control development of a USD 4.8 billion Pt mine.
Oil Libya (NOC) will shut onshore production if attacks continue.
Coal Asian coking coal demand up 7.7% in 2014. Japanese thermal consumers joining forces.
Iron Ore Chinese iron ore production shrinking heavily (at current prices).
Shipping
General Port of Singapore shipping: Traffic for bulks and tankers high but less than last year’s records.