The prices of far-month contracts are, to some extent, determined by market expectations regarding future supply-demand dynamics and price trends, hence differing from spot prices. In contrast, as near-month contracts approach delivery, they are increasingly influenced by actual supply-demand conditions in the spot market, ultimately exhibiting a convergence characteristic where futures and spot prices align. 

January 9 news: Northern ports: South African high-iron 30-32.1 yuan/mtu, up 2.64% from pre-holiday; South African semi-carbonate 35.5-36 yuan/mtu, up 4.38% from pre-holiday; Gabon 43-43.6 yuan/mtu, up 0.23% from pre-holiday; 46% Australian lumps 43.9-44.4 yuan/mtu, up 1.15% from pre-holiday; South African medium-iron 38.1-38.6 yuan/mtu, up 2.68% from pre-holiday. Southern ports: South African high-iron 31.8-32.3 yuan/mtu, flat from pre-holiday; South African semi-carbonate 35.3-36 yuan/mtu, up 0.56% WoW from pre-holiday; Gabon 41.5-42 yuan/mtu, flat from pre-holiday; 46% Australian lumps 41.5-42.2 yuan/mtu, up 0.72% from pre-holiday; South African medium-iron 38.9-39.4 yuan/mtu, up 3.98% from pre-holiday. Post-holiday manganese ore market prices continued their firm trend, with spot transaction prices for various manganese ore grades rising by different margins this week.

KINSHASA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a partial and temporary lifting of the suspension on copper and cobalt processing activities, following the completion of a compliance review in the southeastern mineral-rich Lualaba Province, the DRC Ministry of Mines said Monday.

Russia may lose access to Bolivian lithium due to a review of the terms of the agreement with Uranium One Group by the new Bolivian administration.

This week, prices for cobalt sulphate, nickel sulphate, and lithium carbonate continued to rise.