Commodities

A steel plant in Vietnam. The country has been seeking to boost its steel output in order to be less dependent on China, but a global glut has stymied those plans.
Materials

Vietnam steelmaker scraps blast furnace plant due to China glut

Hoa Sen's $10bn project had potential to double country's output

12 August 2020
While status-seeking Indian and Chinese jewelry buyers lose their appetite for gold, investors are gaining a fondness for the metal. (Source photos from Reuters)
Datawatch

Gold's surge tests plunging dollar's credibility

Fed plays crucial role amid massive government spending and currency printing

10 August 2020
Sumitomo's nickel project in Madagascar has suspended operations since March.
Companies

Japan's Sumitomo stares down record $1.4bn loss for the year

Shutdown of Madagascar nickel mine exacerbates coronavirus slump

8 August 2020
A Lynas mine in Western Australia: Rare-earth elements are mined worldwide, but refining is largely handled in China. (Photo courtesy of Lynas)
27 July 2020
Copper prices are said to reflect the health of the global economy, as the metal is used in a vast range of industries. But today's high prices may be caused by a mirage.
Commodities

'Dr. Copper' misdiagnoses the global economy

Market for bellwether metal too bullish for some to believe

25 July 2020
Tugboats dock an oil tanker carrying crude oil from Iran at the port of Zhoushan in March 2018: China could look to ramp up imports from the petroliferous country.
Opinion

New China-Iran partnership would heap more uncertainty on oil markets

New Delhi has a wary eye on Beijing's latest move for influence

24 July 2020
A Posco steel mill in the South Korean city of Pohang: The company aims to boost productivity by closing or updating older facilities. (Photo courtesy of Posco)
Materials

Posco to shut aging furnace as coronavirus erodes steel demand

Built in 1973, Pohang facility is South Korea's first integrated mill

21 July 2020
Turkey has emerged as the world's largest buyer of gold for central-bank reserves this year.
Commodities

Turkey scrambles for gold, overtaking Russia as top buyer

Ankara's frictions with Washington fuel mad dash for the dollar alternative

21 July 2020
In India and China, retail demand for gold jewelry has fallen as shoppers stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Commodities

Asia's retail gold demand sinks as price hits 9-year high

As 1 ounce nears its record of $1,923, retailing in India and China proves tough

20 July 2020
Workers unload paper pulp in China. The world's biggest paper producer has already been hit by the trade war and now must deal with office and school closures due to the coronavirus.
Commodities

Pandemic shreds office paper demand as global telework unfolds

Producers turn to tissues and household goods after COVID trashes 30% of market

18 July 2020
Toyota has approved the quality of China Baowu's steel sheet for use in hybrid and electric vehicles and is already taking delivery in Japan. (Photo courtesy of Toyota)
Automobiles

Toyota sources crucial steel product from China's Baowu

Top Chinese maker matches Japan rivals in quality of electrical steel sheet

13 July 2020
Huangzeshan oil storage and transportation base, pictured on May 12: China does not seem likely to share details of its strategic stockpiles.
Opinion

Asia should prepare for the next energy crisis

Continent-wide stockpile would prevent oil shortage when geopolitics cut off supply

13 July 2020
China has been accused of flooding overseas markets with cheap steel exports. 
International relations

China loses WTO dispute with EU over steel dumping

Europe, US and Japan can slap tariffs on cheap Chinese products

11 July 2020
Aluminum prices are down due to weak demand from the auto sector.
Commodities

Rio Tinto to shutter aluminum smelter in New Zealand

High power costs and weak demand from auto industry sink operations

9 July 2020
An illustrated image of the LNG project in Mozambique in which Mitsui & Co. and other partners will invest $14 billion.  (Photo: courtesy of Anadarko Petroleum)
Energy

Japan Inc. to invest $14bn in LNG development in Africa

Government and businesses team up for Mozambique project

2 July 2020
The economic divide between China's lagging north and thriving south is widening fast. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Akira Kodaka)
Economy

China's 'North-South divide' to worsen as COVID hits economy

Oil prices and state-owned companies in northern regions hinder growth

2 July 2020
The 83 tons of purportedly pure gold that Kingold creditors held in their coffers as of June would be equivalent to 22% of China’s annual gold production.
Caixin

Mystery of $2bn of loans backed by fake gold in China

Nasdaq-listed Kingold's play for trove of property stymied by corruption probe

29 June 2020
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. has splashed more than $1.3 billion on projects at home and abroad since April 24. 
Caixin

In Depth: How Chinese miner lost Pacific Island gold mine rights

In wake of Papua New Guinea loss, Zijin goes on acquisition and debt binge

25 June 2020
China has revived its steel industry through its economic stimulus program.
Commodities

China's steel dominance grows as global output shrank 9% in May

Asian powerhouse accounts for more than 60% of market after rivals scale back

24 June 2020
The mine operated by Vale Indonesia in Soroako, South Sulawesi is one of the largest nickel operations in the world.
Commodities

Indonesia state company to acquire stake in nickel miner

Southeast Asian nation intent on playing key role in EV battery supply chain

22 June 2020
Taxes on petrol and diesel in India account for around 69% of the retail price, the highest in the world.
Opinion

Indian government stops consumers benefiting from cheap oil

New Delhi has not passed on reductions in crude price but in fact raised taxes

22 June 2020
A Tesla showroom in Shanghai in May: The electric-car brand is changing what powers its made-in-China cars.
Electric cars in China

Tesla wins green light in China to use cobalt-free batteries

Shift to new technology cuts costs and improves supply stability

12 June 2020
Abandoned smartphones contain precious metals that can be reused. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Commodities

Resource-poor Japan unearths metal riches in its trash

Nation's discarded electronics seen to contain more gold than South African deposits

9 June 2020
A signing ceremony between Cambodian government and KrisEnergy in August 2017: the country is pinning its hopes on the Singapore-based company.
Opinion

Coronavirus is crushing Cambodia's dreams of oil wealth

Barrel price has fallen low and economic difficulties are mounting

8 June 2020
Workers load steel products for export onto a cargo ship at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 27.
Commodities

China recovery drives commodity prices higher in Asia

Rebound in steel and chemicals has buyers stocking up

7 June 2020