Smelters pay to process copper as China expands capacity
Fee earned to turn concentrate into the refined metal falls further into negative territory this year
Fee earned to turn concentrate into the refined metal falls further into negative territory this year

Washington follows through with plans to impose 50% levies on some products

Data centres and green grids are heavy users of the red metal, but mine supply is stagnating and new discoveries are rare

Korea Zinc to build processing plant in Tennessee with government investment

New data highlights the need for processing of the metal vital for power grids and electronics, rather than stockpiling

Analysts expect demand for industrial metal to outstrip mined supply by 2030s

Economic sovereignty and security depend on access to minerals and the ability to smelt and refine them