During the 2026 Labour Day holiday, production arrangements among China's secondary copper rod enterprises showed a notable divergence, with some choosing to halt production for the holiday while others maintained normal operations

Meridian Mining (TSX, LSE: MNO) has successfully commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market after raising £25 million ($34 million), a strategic move aimed at securing future inclusion in the FTSE All-Share and FTSE 250 indices. The capital injection will accelerate the development of its Cabaçal gold-copper project in Mato Grosso, Brazil, an advanced-stage open-pit operation with an estimated post-tax IRR of 61% and a net present value of US$984 million. This London listing expands the company's global footprint beyond Toronto and Frankfurt, positioning the Cabaçal volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit as a scalable platform for the company's South American growth strategy.

SMM Analysis: Maintenance Recovery & Falling Zinc TC Shape May Refined Lead Output Outlook SMM May 1 News: In April 2026, China's refined lead production continued its modest upward trend, rising 1.22% month-on-month and 3.01% year-on-year.

On April 9, 2026, the Japanese Cabinet officially approved the latest amendment to the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act (commonly known as the "Waste Cleansing Act"). The core of the amendment is to upgrade metal recycling operations from a notification system to a permit system, and to impose a new obligation requiring confirmation from the Minister of the Environment for scrap metal exports.

Amid sustained demand growth, India plans to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earths. The stockpile will be sized to cover six months of domestic consumption, aiming to guard against risks of global supply disruptions and sharp raw material price volatility. Led by India’s Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Heavy Industries, the reserve covers key raw materials essential for new energy vehicles, energy storage and the electronics sector, fields where India currently relies heavily on imports. At present, the United States, China, South Korea and other countries have already established strategic reserve systems for critical minerals.

According to Hydro's official website, Hydro's adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2026 was NOK 8.668 billion, lower than NOK 9.516 billion in the same period last year. This was mainly due to lower raw material costs, higher metal prices, and increased sales of alumina and metals, but this was partially offset by lower alumina prices, a stronger NOK, and lower electricity generation. Hydro's profitability was strong this quarter, with adjusted earnings per share increasing to NOK 2.07 in the first quarter of 2026, compared to NOK 1.63 in the first quarter of 2025. The upstream business segment continued to operate strongly in the first quarter.