Global Key Base Metals Face Supply Glut, Severe Oversupply for Aluminium, But There Is a Global Copper Shortage

Freeport-McMoRan disclosed during its Q2 earnings call that production resumptions at the underground Block Cave project at the Grasberg mine in Indonesia are progressing in line with expectations, with the ramp-up of Production Block 2 and 3 advancing according to the plan formulated in April. Previously affected by a wet material influx incident in the underground mine area in September 2025, part of Grasberg’s production was suspended. The company subsequently initiated cleanup, repair, and phased resumption of production. Reuters According to Freeport, repair work at the Grasberg Block Cave was completed in Q1 2026, and production ramp-up began in March, reaching the planned operating level in Q2. The company currently expects Grasberg’s capacity to recover to approximately 65% in H2 2026, further increase to around 80% by mid-2027, and plans to approach full operation by the end of 2027. In terms of production, Freeport expects the Grasberg mine to produce a cumulative total of approximately 6.8 billion pounds of copper from 2026 to 2030, with average annual copper production of about 1.4 billion pounds. As Block Cave capacity gradually recovers, copper production is expected to rebound notably after 2027. Additionally, Freeport indicated that Grasberg still has expansion potential, with the Kucing Liar project under development. The ramp-up is expected to commence around 2030, and after reaching full production, it is expected to add 750 million pounds per year of copper capacity.

No primeiro semestre de 2026, o mercado de enxofre da China passou por uma cadeia completa de “colapso das importações – pressão na produção – estagnação das exportações”. Principais números: Produção: A produção nacional de ácido sulfúrico de janeiro a maio caiu 1,6% em relação ao ano anterior, com quedas significativas nas tradicionais províncias produtoras de fertilizantes fosfatados, como Hubei, Guizhou e Yunnan, enquanto Anhui e outras regiões de concentração de ácido de fundição registraram crescimento. Exportações: As exportações de ácido sulfúrico praticamente pararam em junho…

Esta semana (17/07-23/07), a taxa de operação das máquinas na indústria de fios esmaltados caiu em relação à semana anterior...