Tag: commodity focus

BY ELIZABETH FABRI   DEMAND is beginning to pick up for tungsten as China – the world’s largest producer and consumer – begins to scale back production, leaving Australian near-term producers in the box seat. We chat with Australian explorers Tungsten Mining and Thor Mining about their respective projects, and outlook for the year ahead.   Tungsten is one of the lesser-known commodities, but its reach extends to a number of modern electrical applications, including the vibration device in our mobile phones. The strongest natural metal on earth has been predominately mined in China, and Europe, up until now, and used in the manufacturing sector for machine tools, a toughener in steel alloys, as well as in ammunition and armour....

LIKE many of its base metal peers, copper has had a challenging couple of months with its price plummeting more than 15 per cent in the wake of trade tensions between the US and China. However strong mid to long term demand for the red metal – particularly in the bourgeoning electric vehicle market – has analysts optimistic for the year ahead. Will prices recover soon? Elizabeth Fabri spoke with KPMG Copper Commodity leader Maritza Araneda who shares her outlook.   Q. Describe how copper has been fairing and reasons for its volatility in recent months?   Copper prices are sensitive to shifts in the ­global economic outlook and in times of uncertainty, prices are volatile. This has certainly been...

BY ELIZABETH FABRI   WHILE iron ore prices are set to slump in the coming years, Australia’s big four players – BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG and Hancock Prospecting – remain confident, pouring capital into new projects to sustain and bolster production post-2020.   IRON ore exports hit a new record in FY18, reaching an impressive 849 million tonnes; up 3.8 per cent from the previous year. This number is forecast to rise again, increasing by a further 2.3 per cent to 869mt in FY19, and up to 878mt in FY20, according to the September instalment of the Resources and Energy Quarterly report. The higher export volumes will be brought on by continued efficiencies across the majors’ operations including the introduction...