Chile Copper Output Leaps 9.3% in May

Russia has officially extended its temporary sulphur export ban until December 31, 2026, according to Government Decree No. 785 signed on June 25, 2026. The ban was originally set to expire on June 30. The restriction continues to cover liquid, granular and lump sulphur. The Russian government stated that the move aims to prioritise domestic fertiliser production and safeguard national food security. Exemptions apply to exports destined for Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states (including Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc.), as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Sulphur shipments for humanitarian aid and international transit are also permitted under special licenses. The impact of the ban and broader market conditions has weighed on domestic output: Russia's industrial gaseous sulphur production fell 19% year-on-year to 1.75 million tonnes in January-May 2026.

[SMM Flash] On June 26, the 100,000 mt copper cathode smart electrolysis project of Anhui Youjin Guanhua New Material Technology Co., Ltd. officially commenced production and yielded copper. According to SMM, the project is located in Guichi District, Chizhou city, Anhui province, with a total investment of approximately 835 million yuan. Currently, the company's monthly copper cathode production is about 10,000 mt, and once commissioned, the project will bring a certain increase to regional copper cathode supply.

Nigeria has announced the discovery of a new polymetallic mineral province in Kaduna State containing copper, nickel, lithium, rare earth elements, platinum group metals and gold, describing it as one of the country's most significant critical minerals discoveries in recent years. The discovery was made by Steron Mining in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). At the same time, Steron Mining reported approximately 3.3 million tonnes of lithium reserves at its Abuja project, with total mineral resources estimated at 94.8 million tonnes. The Nigerian government said it will continue promoting domestic mineral processing and value-added development to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals supply chain. That infrastructure, power supply and regulatory challenges remain key factors affecting future project development.