The energy crisis continues to provide a strong support, not only for crude prices, but also for industrial metals. Last week aluminium added 9.2% and copper prices gained 9.17%. The absolute leader was zinc that jumped 20.49% in price.
The price of aluminium, which is one of the most energy-intensive commodities, is at a record high. On Monday morning its price peaked at $3288.75 per metric ton, that is 17.56% above 2008 record highs. I suggest the upside movement will continue and we may soon have prices close to $3500 per ton.Copper has exceeded $10,300 per ton while spot contracts are traded with highest premium over futures.
Copper stocks on the London Metal Exchange fell to the lows of 1974 this October. Goldman Sachs analysts suggest that copper stocks may run short by the second quarter of 2022.
Copper prices this May rose above $10,746 per ton. The excitement in the commodities market may push prices towards new records. The technical picture highlights the possibility of copper prices soaring to $11,800-12,000 if it passes the May high.
The price chart of Zinc, the third most popular non-ferrous metal in the world, points to another spin of the rally as its prices rose to $3830 per ton. Belgium Nyrstar N.V., a leading manufacturer of zinc, has reduced its zinc output by up to half at its plants in Budel, the Netherlands, Balen in Belgium and Auby in France since October 13 due to a significant rise in electricity prices.
Some Chinese steelworks forcedly cut production of zinc due to a shortage of electric energy that was caused by record coal prices. No wonder zinc prices will rose to $4300-4500 per ton. Although the international Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) said that zinc will see a surplus of 217,000 tonnes in 2022.
The energy crisis did not only impact Europe, but China reversed its activity in production and joined green economy acolytes. The Chinese industrial sector is still suffering from energy shortage caused by a lack of coal and environmental requirements to steelworks. All this mean that we could hardly expect any change to the existing upward trend in the near future.
The price of aluminium, which is one of the most energy-intensive commodities, is at a record high. On Monday morning its price peaked at $3288.75 per metric ton, that is 17.56% above 2008 record highs. I suggest the upside movement will continue and we may soon have prices close to $3500 per ton.Copper has exceeded $10,300 per ton while spot contracts are traded with highest premium over futures.
Copper stocks on the London Metal Exchange fell to the lows of 1974 this October. Goldman Sachs analysts suggest that copper stocks may run short by the second quarter of 2022.
Copper prices this May rose above $10,746 per ton. The excitement in the commodities market may push prices towards new records. The technical picture highlights the possibility of copper prices soaring to $11,800-12,000 if it passes the May high.
The price chart of Zinc, the third most popular non-ferrous metal in the world, points to another spin of the rally as its prices rose to $3830 per ton. Belgium Nyrstar N.V., a leading manufacturer of zinc, has reduced its zinc output by up to half at its plants in Budel, the Netherlands, Balen in Belgium and Auby in France since October 13 due to a significant rise in electricity prices.
Some Chinese steelworks forcedly cut production of zinc due to a shortage of electric energy that was caused by record coal prices. No wonder zinc prices will rose to $4300-4500 per ton. Although the international Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) said that zinc will see a surplus of 217,000 tonnes in 2022.
The energy crisis did not only impact Europe, but China reversed its activity in production and joined green economy acolytes. The Chinese industrial sector is still suffering from energy shortage caused by a lack of coal and environmental requirements to steelworks. All this mean that we could hardly expect any change to the existing upward trend in the near future.
