On 26 March 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding that designates the Grande Orientale Iron Ore Project (MIFOR) as a flagship venture receiving priority support from Chinese stakeholders. It is estimated that this mining concession holds cumulative resources of between 15 billion and 20 billion tonnes, boasting an average iron grade exceeding 60 per cent. The first phase of the development is projected to require a capital expenditure of 28.9 billion US dollars. Initial production is targeted at 50 million tonnes per annum, with a long-term strategic objective to expand operational capacity to 300 million tonnes per annum.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $12,216/mt and dipped to $12,181.5/mt in early trading. Copper prices then fluctuated upward in center and, near the close, touched a high of $12,420/mt, finally closing at $12,382.5/mt, up 1.64%. Trading volume reached 18,800 lots, and open interest stood at 298,900 lots, an increase of 3,875 lots from the previous trading day. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2605 contract opened at 95,730 yuan/mt and fluctuated rangebound in early trading, hitting a low of 95,550 yuan/mt. It then fluctuated upward all the way to a high of 96,780 yuan/mt, finally closing at 96,760 yuan/mt, up 1.26%. Trading volume reached 56,200 lots, and open interest stood at 186,300 lots, an increase of 598 lots from the previous trading day, mainly driven by increased long positions.

Markets frequently mistake an industry's sudden breakout for its origin. China's long-duration energy storage (LDES, ≥4 hours) sector did not abruptly emerge in 2026. Following policy incubation (2023-2024) and initial scaling (2025), 2026 marks a definitive inflection point, driven by a validated, closed-loop business model and exponential growth in grid-connected capacity.

Premier Energies Ltd has started trial production at its 5.6 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Seetharampur, Telangana, producing G12R TOPCon modules with zero-busbar ('0BB') architecture. This new 75-acre factory boosts the company's total module capacity beyond 10 GW. The highly automated plant can produce up to four modules every 16 seconds and uses 'AI'-powered fault detection. Company executives highlighted the facility's role in scaling integrated manufacturing and supporting India's clean energy goals. Premier Energies is also executing a $1.38 billion capital expenditure plan over three years to double its capacity, expand into ingots and wafers, and diversify into inverters and battery systems.

India’s steel market in 2026 is expected to remain balanced, with demand slightly outpacing supply. Domestic consumption will absorb most output, while imports decline overall and exports increase modestly as a balancing mechanism. Supported by strong growth and infrastructure investment, India is transitioning toward a demand-led steel market with solid long-term potential.

Brazilian steel and iron ore giant Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) has successfully secured a $1.2 billion syndicated bridge loan from international lenders to reinforce its liquidity and support ongoing production operations. This financial maneuver provides crucial breathing room as the company manages heavy capital expenditures, including the ongoing $260 million modernization of Blast Furnace No. 2 at the Volta Redonda plant. The fresh capital injection will ensure seamless raw material procurement, stable continuous casting, and uninterrupted rolling mill operations during the transitional maintenance phases

The gold price is currently causing nervousness once again. Since the start of the war involving the USA and Israel against Iran, the precious metal has recorded a daily loss of 4% for the second time.

“Gold’s status as a haven may now be tarnished in the eyes of some as the precious metal is falling in price even as war roils the Middle East and financial markets alike, and some may even be tempted to say that the third major bull run in the commodity since 1971 is now over,” says AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

March 13 (Reuters) - Gold was on track for a second straight weekly loss, even as it edged higher on Friday, as surging oil prices dampened rate cut bets and caused investors to cover margin calls, while a rising dollar and U.S. yields also pressured prices.

[SMM Aluminum Morning Meeting Summary: Geopolitical Premiums Persist, Aluminum Prices Remained Fluctuating at Highs] Against the backdrop of continued tightening LME liquidity, LME aluminum still had upward momentum, with strong support from prices outside China, and was expected to maintain a backwardation structure in the short term. China, meanwhile, was in a phase of high inventory plus weak spot fundamentals, with upward momentum clearly weaker than outside China. Amid divergent domestic and external drivers, the SHFE/LME price ratio was expected to continue weakening, and aluminum prices were expected to remain fluctuating at highs in the short term.