Metals & Mining: Latest Thinking

• 29 June 2017

Interested in the most recent metals and mining coverage? Explore our expert insight and latest thinking into the commodities market at Wood Mackenzie.

Metals & Mining Smelters & Refineries Cost Services

Access to detailed cost analysis of all the world’s major refineries and smelters operations, representing over 90% of global metals output.

The industry-leading bulk metals research suite for miners

• 20 July 2023

Rigorous research and analysis of iron ore, steel and coal sectors to inform your investment decisions and help you prepare for a lower carbon future in mining

Gold Product Suite

In-depth gold market analysis that helps you benchmark against competitors, evaluate opportunities, and position yourself for growth.

Nickel Product Suite

Find clarity in the nickel industry with leading insights on supply-demand dynamics, project developments, costs of production, and future capacity requirements.

Cobalt Product Suite

Comprehensive cobalt market analysis covering the entire cobalt supply chain and major cobalt markets across the globe

Cathode & Precursor Product Suite

Unmatched analysis of the entire cathode and precursor materials supply chain to help you make smarter, more informed decisions.

Rare Earths Product Suite

Unmatched analysis of the entire rare earths supply chain to help you make smarter, more informed decisions

Bulk Steel Alloys Product Suite

Gain clarity of the ferrous alloy industry with our in-depth market research on bulk steel alloys.

Coronavirus Guide

• 03 March 2020

How might coronavirus impact global energy and commodity markets? Our team of experts from across the energy value chain are monitoring the immediate and future impact of coronavirus on global commodity and energy markets. 

Lens Metals & Mining for industrial companies

• 14 August 2023

Evaluate the reliability and stability of your mined commodities supply chain in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Net zero scenario to require 9.7 Mt of new copper supply over next decade

• 20 October 2022

How much copper is needed to successfully meet the climate targets set out by the Paris Agreement?

Global power demand surge puts net zero by 2050 out of reach as world heads toward 2.6°C warming

• 29 October 2025

Surging power demand and mounting geopolitical tensions have made 2050 net zero goals unattainable, with the world now on track for 2.6°C of global warming.

Guinea’s Simandou to become largest driver of seaborne iron ore supply growth, Wood Mackenzie says

• 01 April 2026

The emergence of Guinea's Simandou as a large-scale, high-grade iron ore supplier signifies a significant change in the global seaborne iron ore market. According to Wood Mackenzie, this project is set to be the primary catalyst for long-term supply growth.

What can we expect from the iron ore market in the near future?

• 13 December 2017

What can we expect from the iron ore market in the near future? Alex Griffiths and Rory Townsend share their thoughts.

Rare earth elements: frequently asked questions

• 01 October 2021

REEs are used in many key industries: electrical, oil, wind and electric vehicles. Where are they found and what's their role in the energy transition?

A better year ahead for battery raw materials?

• 30 January 2020

Will 2020 provide a respite for battery raw materials after a year of falling electric vehicle demand, weak prices and oversupply?

Three reasons why bauxite seaborne trade is set to grow sharply over the next decade

• 21 June 2019

Three reasons why bauxite seaborne trade is set to grow sharply over the next decade

Tighter at the top: taking a look at the premium end of iron ore's two-tier market

• 21 May 2018

We think demand for premium iron ores will stay strong, but supply will struggle to keep up: it is getting tighter at the top.

Coronavirus: a wildcard for bulks demand

• 28 February 2020

A look at the potential impact of Covid-19 on steel, iron ore, metallurgical and thermal coal.

Coronavirus: demand downgrades for bulk commodities

• 06 March 2020

The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly evolving news story – and a real wildcard for bulks demand. Here's a summary of our latest forecasts for steel, iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal.

China’s bulks: the sentiment gap between steel and coal widens

• 25 March 2020

The coronavirus outbreak means the outlook is evolving quickly. Here’s this week’s view from our analysts.

Batteries: powering the fight against climate change

• 22 April 2020

Why investment in battery manufacturing and storage technologies is critical to limiting global warming to 2°C

As politicians bicker, Australia’s energy and natural resources exports to China are booming

• 09 June 2020

But the appetite of China’s consumers for Aussie tenderloin and Merlot is insignificant in terms of overall trade. Iron ore, coal and LNG are what really matter.

How long can nickel prices defy market fundamentals?

• 29 September 2020

Nickel has ignored western market fundamentals, where demand has dried up due to the global pandemic, and prices have soared 30% since April. But these dysfunctional dynamics won't last.

Are miners ready for a net zero future?

• 21 October 2020

Miners are facing greater pressure than ever to cut emissions. We examine the policies and operations of the five largest diversified miners – Anglo American, BHP, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Vale – to see how they are making headway and where the key challenges lie.

From proposal to execution: 5 challenges on the path to net zero

• 24 November 2020

The energy transition raises many questions, including: how will we meet the flexibility requirements of evolving power systems? What role will hydrogen play in the new energy landscape? And can the energy transition’s materials needs be met?

Is the energy transition road paved with scrap metal?

• 07 January 2021

Scrap could help to decarbonise the metals and mining industry, and fill a looming supply gap – but policy change will be crucial.

Will a lack of supply growth come back to bite the copper industry?

• 23 March 2021

With copper on the frontline of the energy transition and a mining super-cycle on the way, can the red metal meet the challenge of transformational demand? Julian Kettle, Senior Vice President, Vice Chair Metals and Mining asks whether a mismatch between the rhetoric and the reality of supply development could constrain copper market growth – and even slow the pace of the energy transition.

Build or buy: are the copper Majors rising to the growth challenge?

• 06 April 2021

The copper industry may be shooting for the stars on demand — but the supply challenge could bring it back down to earth. In the second of a two-part series, Julian Kettle, Senior Vice President, Vice Chair Metals and Mining asks: can the top producers arrest a decline in output with organic project development? Or is it time to buy growth?