![[SMM Analysis] Global Scrap Aluminum Resource Retention Trend Gains Momentum: EU, US, Japan, UAE & South Africa Policies](https://imgqn.smm.cn/production/admin/votes/imageslvDRc20240314085754.png)
As resource security and decarbonization become increasingly important, major economies are strengthening efforts to retain aluminum scrap. From the EU's review of export controls and the U.S. strategic asset proposal to Japan's circular economy initiatives and policies in the UAE and South Africa, these developments could reshape global scrap flows and affect secondary aluminum markets.
Jun 6, 2026 23:27According to the OECD's latest Steel Outlook 2026, global excess steel production capacity is projected to reach 745 million tonnes by 2028 — surpassing total OECD steel output by 319 million tonnes. Planned new capacity additions of 139 million tonnes between 2025 and 2028 represent a 5.7% increase, while demand is forecast to grow at only around 0.9% annually, widening the supply-demand gap. Most new capacity is being built outside OECD countries, frequently with government support — in 2024, Chinese steelmakers received subsidies equivalent to 15 times more relative to total assets than producers elsewhere. OECD member capacity contracted overall, with the UK seeing the sharpest decline at 39.7% between 2021 and 2025, followed by Japan at 7.2%. Export restrictions on scrap metal across 42 countries and rising energy costs linked to Middle East tensions are further weighing on investment and the low-carbon transition.
Jun 5, 2026 16:26Aluminum associations from the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan highlighted OECD data showing that global aluminum-sector subsidies totaled USD118.3 billion during 2005-2024, with China accounting for USD101.4 billion, or 86% of the total. In 2024 alone, China received USD10.2 billion of the sector’s USD11.1 billion global subsidies. Industry groups noted that China’s share of global primary aluminum output has risen from 11% to 61% over the past two decades, with subsidy-supported growth extending into downstream processing and recycling. The associations called for coordinated measures, including import monitoring systems, tariff alignment and potential scrap export restrictions, to strengthen supply-chain security and support fair competition.
Jun 4, 2026 10:21![[Market Insight]: US–China Copper Scrap Trade Faces Structural Shift Amid Potential Export Restrictions](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/vcsIC20251217171710.jpg)
The global copper scrap market is entering a period of structural tightening as geopolitical tensions and industrial policy increasingly reshape trade flows. The relationship between the United States and China sits at the center of this transition, particularly as Washington considers restricting exports of high-quality copper scrap in 2027 while China remains heavily dependent on imported secondary copper feedstock. China’s copper scrap imports remained strong in 2024 at 441,080 MT, underscoring continued demand from secondary refiners serving the EV, renewable energy, power grid, and manufacturing sectors. However, imports have collapsed in 2025 to 143,271 MT, with current projections for 2026 falling further to just 5,305 MT. The sharp decline signals a rapid deterioration in China’s direct access to imported scrap feedstock amid rising geopolitical friction and tariffs. China’s existing 10% tariff on US-origin scrap has already reduced the competitiveness of direct shipments, although clean high-grade material has continued to move because of favorable processing economics. Trade flows indicate that copper scrap is increasingly being rerouted through Southeast Asia rather than moving directly from the United States into China. US copper scrap exports to ASEAN rose from 170,687 tonnes in 2024 to 222,993 tonnes in 2025, while Chinese imports of copper scrap from ASEAN increased from 434,176 tonnes to 529,345 tonnes over the same period. The correlation strongly suggests ASEAN is emerging as a critical intermediary hub for scrap aggregation, processing, blending, and re-export into China. This shift reflects a broader restructuring of the global scrap trade as market participants adapt to tariffs, geopolitical risk, and the growing probability of tighter controls on high-quality US scrap exports. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are increasingly functioning as alternative routing channels within the global secondary copper supply chain. The timing is significant because the United States continues to export around 1 million tonnes of copper scrap globally in 2025 while domestic secondary refinery production remains limited at approximately 50kt. This imbalance is becoming central to the policy debate in Washington. As US demand for copper accelerates through grid modernization, electrification, AI-driven data center expansion, and defense manufacturing, policymakers are increasingly questioning whether high-grade recyclable copper should continue flowing overseas while the US remains dependent on imported refined copper. Current policy discussions focus on retaining a larger share of premium copper scrap within the domestic market beginning as early as 2027. Although proposals currently stop short of a full export ban, any retention mechanism would still materially reduce export availability for high-quality grades such as bare bright copper and No.1 copper scrap. For China, tighter access to premium scrap has important implications beyond the secondary market. High-quality scrap directly competes with refined copper cathode because it offers high recovery rates with lower processing intensity than primary smelting. If imported scrap availability continues to tighten, Chinese refiners will likely need to increase refined copper purchases to maintain output levels. This dynamic could become increasingly supportive for refined copper markets globally. The primary copper market is already facing structural constraints from weak mine supply growth, declining ore grades, permitting delays, and years of underinvestment in new projects. A simultaneous tightening in high-grade scrap availability would amplify pressure on refined copper balances precisely as demand linked to electrification continues to strengthen. As a result, the market could see narrower scrap discounts relative to cathode, firmer copper premiums in Asia, and increased volatility across both COMEX and LME pricing. The secondary copper market is therefore becoming an increasingly important variable in the broader refined copper outlook. Ultimately, the copper scrap market is no longer operating purely on economic arbitrage. Strategic resource security is becoming a defining driver of trade flows and policy decisions. The rapid growth in ASEAN intermediary trade, combined with collapsing direct Chinese scrap imports and growing US policy intervention, signals that the global copper supply chain is entering a new phase of fragmentation — one that is likely to tighten both scrap and refined copper markets into 2026 and beyond. Author: Shairaz Ahmed, Principal Market Analyst For more information or to discuss market dynamics, you can contact me on shairazahmed@smm.cn
May 26, 2026 17:23The US is advancing a $450M gallium supply chain project centered on the Gramercy alumina refinery in Louisiana, which is expected to host the country’s first large-scale gallium production circuit. The project involves Atlantic Alumina and includes about $150M in Pentagon funding. As the US currently has no domestic gallium production, the Gramercy refinery has become a critical asset, though its alumina operations rely entirely on imported Jamaican bauxite. China currently controls around 98% to 99% of global low-purity gallium supply, and following export restrictions, the US is accelerating efforts to build domestic critical mineral supply chains. However, the current US gallium and rare earth supply chain remains highly dependent on a single refinery and Jamaican bauxite supply.
May 22, 2026 09:41On May 20, 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced during a plenary session of the National Congress that the government has officially signed a groundbreaking regulation targeting the governance of natural resource exports. This bold policy framework will establish a dedicated state-managed natural resource export agency, executing exports through State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) acting as government-designated single exporters. According to local media disclosures and presentation slides shown during the session, this centralized mechanism will initially apply to palm oil, coal, and ferroalloys ( paduan besi ) . Under this system, direct private export transactions will be phased out, forcing overseas buyers and Indonesian producers to route contracts, logistics, and payments entirely through state-appointed BUMN nodes. 1. The Two-Phase Implementation Timeline Based on the official policy schematic diagrams disclosed on-site, the transition to a centralized BUMN-led export model will occur in two distinct regulatory phases: Phase 1 (Transition) Time : June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026 Mechanics : Private enterprises continue to manage some internal administrative and logistics steps. However, all existing and new import-export transactions with overseas buyers must begin a step-by-step migration to BUMN entities. Phase 2 (Full Monopsony) Time : September 1, 2026, Onward Mechanics : Complete takeover. All transaction flows, sales contracts, export declarations, customs clearance, shipping arrangements, and the collection of export earnings (DHE) will be fully managed or led by designated BUMN. 2. Deep Structural Intervention: Pre- to Post-Clearance This regulatory mechanism does not simply install a government "rubber stamp." Instead, it represents a fundamental reallocation of the entire export trade chain, deeply embedding BUMN across three key logistics and financial phases: [Pre-Clearance] ──> [Clearance] ──> [Post-Clearance] (Contracts & Docs) (Customs & Loading) (Payment & FX DHE) Pre-Clearance (Contract & Goods Preparation): This covers verifying legality, IUP mining licenses, export restrictions ( Lartas ) compliance, sales contract drafting, finalizing payment terms, commercial invoicing, and vessel chartering/cabin bookings. Clearance (Customs & Physical Shipment): Includes filing export declarations (PEB), managing customs system approvals, cargo transport from smelter warehouses to port terminals, loading shipments, and issuing Bills of Lading (B/L). Post-Clearance (Documentation & Capital Flow): BUMN will act as the principal intermediary, dispatching trade documents (B/L, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin/COO) to the buyer's issuing bank and managing the repatriation of export proceeds (DHE) under strict domestic banking provisions. 3. The Billion-Dollar Question: Will NPI and FeNi be Classified as "Ferroalloys"? For the global stainless steel and electric vehicle battery supply chains, the immediate focal point is how Indonesia defines the scope of "ferroalloy" ( paduan besi ). Market consensus strongly suggests that the "ferroalloys" under discussion are highly likely targeting Nickel Pig Iron (NPI), which represents a massive trade flow of approximately 11.5 million tons of Indonesian NPI exports in 2025. However, because the official, legally binding regulation "signed" by the government has not yet been formally released to the public, further clarification is needed to verify the exact scope of affected materials. Crucially, the leaked written draft of the regulation does not actually mention "ferroalloys" at all. The term "ferroalloy" ( paduan besi ) was only verbally highlighted and presented by President Prabowo during the House of Representatives Plenary Session (Rapat Paripurna DPR) on Wednesday (20/5). According to the leaked draft text, the actual written scope of the law is structured as follows: CHAPTER II: DETERMINATION OF STRATEGIC NATURAL RESOURCE COMMODITIES Article 2 (1) Strategic Natural Resource Commodities subject to export governance include: a. coal; b. palm oil; and c. other strategic natural resource commodities. (2) The Government may amend the Strategic Natural Resource Commodities as referred to in paragraph (1) letters a and b, and establish other Strategic Natural Resource Commodities as referred to in letter c through a coordinated meeting ( rapat koordinasi ) led by: a. the minister responsible for synchronization, coordination, and control of ministerial affairs in the field of the economy ( Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs / Menko Perekonomian ); or b. the minister responsible for synchronization, coordination, and control of ministerial affairs in the field of food ( Coordinating Minister for Food / Menko Pangan ), attended by relevant ministers/heads of non-ministerial agencies. This clause reveals a crucial legal framework: any expansion of the export control list to designate NPI, FeNi, or related ferronickel alloys under "other strategic commodities" is strictly required to be determined through a formal coordinated meeting ( rapat koordinasi ) led by either the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs or the Coordinating Minister for Food. Because the written regulation itself is silent on "ferroalloys," the legal scope of the policy has not been fixed yet . Until this high-level inter-ministerial coordination meeting ( rapat koordinasi ) takes place and issues a definitive annex list with matching HS codes, the practical impact on NPI trade remains pending official confirmation. Should nickel-iron intermediates formally fall under the BUMN single-exporter mandate after this meeting, SMM foresees four critical structural disruptions: I. Erosion of Direct Negotiation Flexibility Currently, Indonesian NPI is sold through a highly flexible ecosystem of steel mills, global trading desks, independent brokers, and back-to-back supply contracts. Forcing these contracts to route through a single state exporter compresses the operational room for direct price discovery, spot volume locking, and rapid high-frequency reselling. II. Absolute Export Price Transparency By funneling all sales contracts, shipping invoices, and foreign exchange collection (DHE) through state-owned channels, the Indonesian government will gain real-time, absolute transparency over actual transaction prices. This complements Indonesia's ongoing tightening of domestic mining benchmarks (HPM), the annual RKAB quota system, and the strict requirement for export proceeds to be held in domestic bank accounts. III. Disintermediation of Traders and Brokers In-transit or port-stored nickel-iron inventories have historically served as highly liquid financial assets for brokers and traders who leverage transfer orders and back-to-back contracts. Standardizing all contract entities and payment channels under BUMN will squeeze the margins of non-producing traders, rendering physical spot market quotes highly rigid. IV. Export Execution Delays Migrating long-term off-take agreements to BUMN templates will trigger significant friction during the Phase 1 transition. SMM expects delays stemming from contract re-signings, banking channel adjustments, letter of credit (L/C) re-issuances, and initial administrative coordination at port customs, temporarily disrupting short-term port-arrival schedules. 4. Market and Price Impact Analysis (If NPI were to be Involved) Short-Term Sentiment vs. Medium-Term Realities Short-Term (Sentiment-Driven): The direct impact on physical NPI shipping volumes returning to China will remain limited during the initial transition window, as private exporters continue to assist with logistics. However, given tight domestic nickel ore supplies, production cuts at several RKEF plants, and already declining NPI shipments, the market will likely digest this announcement as a fresh supply-side threat, driving up bullish sentiment. Medium-Term (Structural Shifts): If NPI is formally included in the HS code list, Chinese stainless steel mills will face centralized Indonesian state sellers. This will result in stronger payment scrutiny, fewer options for non-standard flexible transactions, and the virtual elimination of low-cost, off-market FOB deals. Transaction Costs vs. Production Costs Unlike mining-end disruptions such as rising HPM benchmarks, declining laterite ore grades, or restricted RKAB quotas, this export centralization policy does not directly raise the physical smelting cost of NPI. Instead, it functions as a tax on transaction efficiency, increasing compliance burdens, administrative delays, and state oversight on pricing. SMM concludes that the impact of this policy is an increase in "transaction-side friction" rather than raw production costs, which will ultimately support sellers' intentions to hold prices firm and reinforce the price rigidity of high-nickel pig iron. 5. SMM Outlook Indonesia’s new export regulation signals that its resource nationalism is successfully extending its reach beyond the mine gate and tax office, directly into the global sales and trading arena. However, the key takeaway is that nothing is legally set in stone for the nickel industry yet. Because the written regulation currently leaves the door open under "other strategic commodities," and the word "ferroalloy" was only delivered verbally by the President on Wednesday (20/5), the entire framework remains unfixed. The critical indicator for the nickel chain over the coming weeks is whether the upcoming inter-ministerial rapat koordinasi formally adopts the HS codes for NPI and FeNi into the final regulatory annex.
May 20, 2026 18:42Trump's May 13-15, 2026 state visit starkly contrasts with his Nov 2017 trip, where $250B in deals epitomized globalization. Months later, in March 2018, a trade war erupted.
May 15, 2026 21:15At the hosted by SMM, Ouyang Yichang, SMM secondary copper industry research analyst, shared insights on the topic of "Analysis of Japan's Secondary Copper Market." He noted that, according to SMM, Japan's copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a fiercely competitive "seller ecosystem." Trade models that rely solely on spot cargo procurement are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, ex-China purchasing enterprises need to move beyond the traditional spot trading mindset and establish structural partnerships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity cooperation, in order to adapt to the persistently tight market landscape. Global Positioning of Japan's Copper Scrap Market Global Positioning of Japan's Copper Scrap Market Key Drivers Behind Japan's Leading Position in Asia 1 Precision Sorting: Exceptional classification accuracy ensures high-quality scrap output. 2 Well-Established Infrastructure: A mature "urban mine" system and advanced logistics provide a highly reliable supply foundation. 3 Strategic Geographical Advantage: Proximity to China (accelerating capital turnover), while serving as a key trans-Pacific logistics hub connecting the Americas and Asia. 4 Favorable Trade and Tax Policies: Zero export tariffs and transparent regulations ensure seamless global operations. 5 Commercial Reliability: High standards of packaging and business ethics minimize quality claims. Japan's Average Unit Price of Copper Scrap Significantly Leads the Top Five Global Exporters In 2025, Japan and Thailand each accounted for approximately 7% of global copper scrap exports. However, Japan commanded the highest average export price among major peers ($8,112/mt), thanks to a substantial quality premium. This price spread revealed fundamental differences in product mix. Thailand primarily served as a processing hub, with limited high-grade copper scrap output domestically. In contrast, Japan was organically driven by its mature "urban mine" ecosystem, consistently producing high-purity, high-grade materials. Flow of Japan's Copper Scrap Flow of Japan's Copper Scrap Rising Trade Volume and Shrinking Net Exports: A Shift Toward Domestic Retention Smelters Drove Copper Scrap Consumption Growth While Downstream Processing Enterprises Saw Declining Usage According to SMM, compared with 2021, processing enterprises' copper scrap usage declined by 8% in 2025. Processing enterprises: Weak downstream demand (automotive, construction) and fierce global competition for high-quality copper scrap severely squeezed domestic processing enterprises, resulting in a sustained 8% decline in their absolute usage. Smelters: Tightened environmental protection and export policies implemented since 2023 restricted the outflow of copper scrap, significantly accelerating this structural "reflux" toward smelters. Combined with the plunge in TC/RC, Japanese smelters were forced to rely on these raw materials to maintain production. Consequently, the share of copper scrap consumed by the smelting segment has maintained an overall upward trend in recent years. Japan's overall scrap supply is contracting; despite robust growth in domestic consumption, the structural decline in net exports is the primary driver. Since the 2021 peak, Japan's total apparent supply of copper scrap has been on an overall downward trend. This indicates structural tightening in domestic scrap generation and social recovery rates, with increasingly scarce available resources. Despite the overall supply contraction, domestic apparent consumption demonstrated strong resilience, as Japanese smelters actively secured local raw materials to maintain production amid plunging TC. This robust local demand is significantly squeezing exports. Net exports have consequently declined structurally to low levels. Japan is shifting from a "resource overflow" model to an "internal absorption" model, which will severely exacerbate raw material shortages for Southeast Asian and Chinese buyers. Bare bright copper payable indicator stays high: supply tightness and China's tax-driven demand outweigh the impact of recent copper price rebound Since early 2026, market copper prices have risen steadily overall; in March, copper prices experienced a periodic pullback, and copper scrap sellers held prices firm with strong willingness to defend price floors, directly driving the bare bright copper payable indicator passively higher. Entering April, futures copper prices rebounded and stabilized at highs, but the copper scrap payment ratio deviated from conventional pricing logic and did not pull back accordingly, remaining firmly in the 98.5%-99.0% range. The core supporting logic lies in: continued tightening of domestic tax regulation, with China's downstream processing enterprises increasingly relying on imported copper scrap to obtain compliant input tax deductions, forming rigid procurement demand; coupled with tight spot copper scrap supply, the dual support of supply and demand underpins the copper scrap payment ratio to stay high. Japan's Scrap Policies Japan's Scrap Policies Regulatory Shift: Building an "Invisible Wall" Although Japan has not explicitly imposed export bans, it strengthens its domestic closed-loop system through a strategic policy combination. For global buyers, this signals a structural shift in the Japanese market going forward: intensified competition, soaring procurement costs, and increasing difficulty in accessing high-quality scrap. Regulatory maturity and standardized transparency are the primary drivers of the "Japan premium." Policy Lag vs. Market Reality: Although the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and potential US export restrictions have not yet been formally enacted, the market has already priced in expectations of future supply contraction, compelling downstream buyers to proactively pivot toward trade hubs with higher compliance and transparency. "Reliability Premium" Logic Emerges: As a pioneer in industry compliance and market transparency, Japan can effectively hedge against risks prevalent in other regions, such as insufficient information transparency and origin rerouting, providing the market with an important safe-haven and pricing anchor function. Outlook and Forecast Strategic Outlook and Forecast Driven by aggressive development targets at both enterprise and national levels, scrap consumption by domestic smelters in Japan is set to experience significant structural growth. According to SMM, the climb in scrap consumption by Japanese smelters is not a short-term cyclical response triggered by declining mine TCs, but rather a fundamental structural transformation underpinned by strong capital strength and long-term commitment. As 2030 ESG-related targets continue to materialize, the trend of retaining domestic scrap for internal use in Japan will deepen further, structurally tightening global circulating scrap supply over the long term and continuously compressing the available sourcing volume for ex-China buyers. Response Logic for the "New Normal" in Japan's Copper Scrap Market Volume and Flow Direction: Steady Decline Net exports of copper scrap will not plunge to zero abruptly, but rather exhibit a sustained structural decline trend. As domestically subsidized capacity comes fully online, exports of high-grade secondary copper such as bare bright copper and No.1 copper will enter a steady contraction trajectory. Pricing Logic: The traditional medium and long-term linkage of "rising copper prices, declining scrap payment ratios" has been structurally reshaped. Under the dual effects of persistently tight copper concentrates supply and China's rigid tax-driven procurement demand providing a floor, the payment ratio for Japan's high-quality copper scrap is expected to establish a long-term upward baseline. Strategic Pivot: Constrained by the upper limit of domestic secondary copper output and tight labor supply, Japanese recycling industry alliances will accelerate their expansion into markets outside China. Japanese enterprises will invest in overseas joint venture projects to solidify downstream processing capacity deployment while maintaining Japanese-led control over raw material supply chains. According to SMM analysis, the current Japanese copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a fiercely competitive "seller ecosystem." Trade models that rely solely on spot purchases are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, ex-China purchasing enterprises need to move beyond the traditional spot trading mindset and establish structural partnerships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity cooperation, thereby adapting to the persistently tight market landscape.
May 14, 2026 18:208. May 2026 The silver market is showing its dynamic side again this Thursday. Spot silver (XAG/USD) jumps around 2 percent higher during the day and is trading clearly above the psychologically important $80 mark . The white metal is thus continuing its recovery following the sharp pullback of recent weeks—and is currently even outperforming its big brother gold. From All-Time High to Correction—and Back Again To put the recent strength into perspective, it’s worth looking back: In January 2026, silver marked a new all-time high at $121.64 per troy ounce, definitively breaking through the long-standing $50 resistance zone. But after this spectacular breakout came disillusionment: with the onset of the Strait of Hormuz conflict in late February, the precious metal came under massive pressure. By early May, silver had plunged around 22 percent from its highs, driven by concerns that central banks might maintain their restrictive course longer in light of rising energy prices. The current movement is noteworthy in this respect: according to Kitco , the silver price rose to $79.92 per ounce on May 8, 2026—a gain of 2.09 percent from the previous day. Silver futures climbed in parallel to $80.625. This is more than a technical reflex: silver is thus trading significantly above the early May level, when the troy ounce was still trading below $73. The Dual Leverage: Safe-Haven and Industrial Metal What distinguishes silver from gold is the metal’s hybrid character. Around half of global silver demand comes from industrial applications—from solar modules to electronics to medical technology. This dual nature explains why silver swings more violently in both directions than gold: in phases of high risk aversion, the safe-haven effect takes hold; in phases of economic expansion, industrial demand picks up. The structural drivers in particular remain intact. Growth impulses continue to come from photovoltaics, electromobility, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. Several analysts expect industrial demand to exceed supply in 2026 as well. Added to this is a scarcity component the market is underestimating: the lead time for new silver mines is often seven to ten years, and since January 2026, Chinese export restrictions have additionally burdened global supply. Investment demand also remains robust. According to the latest World Silver Survey data, global physical investment demand in 2025/early 2026 was at a multi-year high—driven primarily by Indian investors and a notable shift in European precious metals trading toward silver. The Gold-Silver Ratio Sends Mixed Signals The development of the gold-silver ratio is intriguing, traditionally one of the most important valuation indicators in the precious metals market. Currently, the ratio stands at around 61, after temporarily falling to a low of 43. The historical average ranges between 65 and 75. In other words: silver is neither dramatically undervalued nor clearly overvalued relative to gold. The pronounced relative undervaluation that was the central driver for silver bulls in recent years has largely been worked off. This observation calls for caution. LBBW strategists, for example, argue that sustained outperformance of silver versus gold is rather unlikely given the weak global economy and high industrial dependence. Those investing in silver are therefore no longer just buying the hope of ratio normalization, but are increasingly betting on a classic cyclical upswing. Technical Analysis: The Next Critical Levels From a technical perspective, silver stands at a technically delicate point. The first resistance runs at $81.81, followed by $82.50; a breakthrough would unlock the next price target at $84. On the downside, the central support lies at $73.14, followed by $72 and $70.90. As long as silver holds above the $73 region, the overall picture remains constructive. Rally Launch or Overextended Reflex? The honest answer is: both are possible—and that’s precisely what makes silver so attractive yet risky in the current environment. Arguments for a new upward thrust include structural supply scarcity, sustained investment demand, and the prospect that the Fed could return to loose monetary policy in the medium term. Once gold resumes its uptrend, silver historically tends to follow at significantly higher speed—the classic high-beta pattern. Arguments against include the fragile geopolitical situation in the Persian Gulf, the still restrictive monetary policy, and the risk that an economic slowdown could dampen industrial demand. The recent price behavior—a loss of around 22 percent in just a few weeks—also demonstrates how painful this metal’s volatility can be. Conclusion for investors: Silver remains the most exciting precious metal in 2026—but also the most demanding. The recent rebound above $80 is an initial bullish signal that makes a technical bottom formation more likely. However, a sustainable trend reversal requires breaking the $82 mark. Those entering should be aware that short-term fluctuations of 5 to 10 percent in either direction are normal. For strategically oriented precious metals investors, this changes nothing about the fundamental attractiveness—on the contrary: corrections like those of recent weeks have historically often been the better entry windows. Source: https://goldinvest.de/en/silver-back-above-critical-level-why-the-metal-is-currently-outperforming-gold/
May 11, 2026 09:50[SMM Analysis] Sulphuric Acid: A Key Variable Reshaping Copper Pricing Logic
May 8, 2026 18:24