US April PPI was up 6% YoY, the highest since December 2022, versus expectations of 4.9%, with the prior reading revised from 4.00% to 4.3%. April PPI was up 1.4% MoM, the highest since March 2022, versus expectations of 0.5%, with the prior reading revised from 0.50% to 0.7%.
May 14, 2026 07:31Rio Tinto stated that it expects its copper production to increase by approximately 13% by 2030, mainly driven by growth from the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia and the Kennecott operation in the United States. The company also noted that global copper mine development continues to face challenges including lengthy permitting processes and slow supply additions. As demand from AI, electrification, and energy transition sectors continues to grow, major mining companies are accelerating global copper resource development and long-term supply expansion strategies.
May 13, 2026 09:23[Canada's Unifor Union Targets Ford as Top Priority for 2026 Contract Negotiations] Unifor, Canada's largest private-sector union, has locked in Ford Motor as its primary negotiating target, prioritizing a new collective labor agreement with the automaker, one of the Detroit Big Three. Negotiations are set to officially begin on June 22. If a new agreement is reached with Ford, it will establish a benchmark pattern for subsequent negotiations with Stellantis and General Motors. Just days after negotiations begin, on July 1, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will undergo its mandatory joint review, in which the three countries will need to decide whether to extend the agreement for 16 years.
May 12, 2026 13:21According to US Department of Commerce data, the United States imported 2.45 million net tons (nt) of steel in March 2026, a 5.3% increase from February. Finished steel imports surged by 15.4% month-on-month to 1.94 million nt, accounting for an estimated 22% of the domestic market share. Total imports for the first quarter of 2026 reached 7.07 million nt, up 2.7% compared to the same period in 2025. Significant increases were seen in imports of oil country tubular goods (+55%) and line pipe (+49%). The influx of finished products, particularly from South Korea and Brazil, increases competitive pressure on domestic US mills and may limit the upside for local spot prices despite seasonal demand recovery.
May 12, 2026 10:30![[SMM Analysis] Geopolitical Thaw Pulls Stainless Steel Off Multi-Week Highs as Post-Holiday Reality Bites](https://imgqn.smm.cn/production/admin/votes/imagesJgbeN20260508181713.jpeg)
China's stainless steel futures gave back ground sharply in the first trading week after the May Day holiday, as a sudden easing of Middle East tensions deflated the risk premium that had carried prices to recent highs. With the cost-side narrative unwinding and physical demand showing little follow-through, the market is searching for a new floor
May 8, 2026 18:13Starting from the new all-time high of USD 5,602 on January 29, the gold price has now been in a correction phase for over three months, characterized so far by two sharp downward waves, two recovery waves, and most recently by another downward wave since mid-April.
May 6, 2026 14:30To better serve industrial clients and stay closer to the market, SMM is adding 6 new scrap copper price assessments for Japan/US regions, officially launching on 16/1/2026. 1. New Price Points Copper Scrap - East Asia - Japan Millberry CIF China - Japan Millberry CIF China Taiwan - Japan Millberry CIF Korea Copper Scrap - America - United States Millberry CIF Japan - United States No.1 Copper Material CIF Japan - United States No.2 Copper Material CIF Japan 2. SMM Price Methodology General Principles Shanghai Metals Market (hereinafter referred to as "SMM") is a completely independent third-party service provider that does not participate in any actual transactions. Instead, SMM maintains close communication with buyers and sellers as a market observer or organizer and provides related services to the market. This document sets forth the standards for SMM's East Asia and US scrap copper price assessments. The purpose of establishing these standards is to create a transparent and verifiable SMM price formation mechanism. 3. Formation of SMM East Asia and US Scrap Copper Price Assessments 3.1 Significance of the Assessments In recent years, Japan and the United States have continued to play important roles in the global scrap copper trading system. Their export prices for berry copper and copper scrap hold strong reference value for major Asian consumer markets. Due to differences in origin quality structure, trade flows, and regional demand, actual transaction prices vary across different destinations. To more accurately reflect the true price levels of Japanese and US scrap copper in cross-regional circulation, reduce information asymmetry risks, and help upstream and downstream enterprises more reasonably evaluate procurement costs and formulate trading strategies, SMM plans to add price points including Japan Berry Copper CIF China, Japan Berry Copper CIF South Korea, Japan Berry Copper CIF Taiwan China, US Berry Copper CIF Japan, US No.1 Copper CIF Japan, and US No.2 Copper CIF Japan. These will be collected according to a unified methodology and publicly released to the market for industry reference. SMM price members will be able to access relevant historical price data simultaneously. 3.2 SMM East Asia and US Scrap Copper Price Assessment Methodology 3.2.1 Product Specifications and Standards Currently, scrap copper reference standards follow ISRI standards. If changes occur, SMM will revise accordingly based on actual circumstances. 3.2.2 Price Terms Prices are CIF indicative prices, expressed as a coefficient (%) unit. 3.2.3 Payment Terms Prices reflect payment conditions including TT or other conventional payment methods. 3.2.4 Quote Format and Timing Quoted prices are in range format, showing minimum and maximum prices. For example: Japan Millberry CIF China: 97.5%-98%. New price points will be assessed weekly. SMM will publish prices on the website front page at 3:30 PM on the last day of each working week. 3.2.5 Data Collection Method According to the data collection confirmation agreement, SMM price analysts will regularly collect price information from scrap copper industry contacts in Japan through telephone, WeChat, email, and other methods. This price information includes completed transaction prices and the most likely anticipated transaction prices expected by the enterprise. All instant messaging content and any face-to-face communication records will be archived telephone communication details will be recorded and entered into the database. SMM analysts must comply with the Compliance System when reporting to their supervisors any coerced or threatened communications from market participants, or any inducements attempting to influence assessments. After price publication, SMM will not make corrections or adjustments on that day. 3.2.6 Data Standardization Although SMM has standardized definitions for our prices, market transactions exist in various forms. Each transaction price is influenced by numerous factors, including order size, material brand, delivery time, payment terms, etc. SMM will comprehensively consider market quotes, bids, and transaction information and align them with our standards. We welcome more relevant enterprises along the industry chain to participate in and support SMM in better serving scrap copper industry-related enterprises. For any questions, please contact us. Shanghai Metal Market Copper Department - Aw Yong Yi Cheong Contact: +6011-25798397 Email add: awyong.yicheong@smm.cn
PriceJan 12, 2026 15:35