Against the background of the conflict in the Middle East, prices for platinum, aluminum and copper have increased. Platinum is becoming more expensive as a protective asset, aluminum — because of the risk of rising energy prices. Copper is holding at highs due to a decrease in reserves.
By 2026, China could become the world's largest producer of lithium for batteries. Fastmarkets predicts that China will overtake Australia by next year, and Chinese miners will produce 900,000 metric tons of lithium by 2035.
Belarus and Russia join forces to search for rare earths. The countries have agreed on joint scientific and laboratory research of promising deposits of rare metals and rare earth elements.
Russia exports more non-ferrous metals to China. Russian metallurgists have shifted their sales away from Western markets and increased shipments to China. In January–May 2025, aluminum supplies to China increased by 56%, copper by 66%, and nickel by more than half.
Meanwhile, in China itself, scientists have created a nickel superconductor operating at normal atmospheric pressure. The new development can make MRI cheaper and accelerate the development of new energy-efficient technologies.
Norilsk Nickel has introduced digital marking of nickel with a QR code. The first tags that allow you to track the entire production chain appeared on the products of the Kola MMC.
Cobalt prices increased by 10% after the Democratic Republic of the Congo extended the ban on exports of this metal. If there is no solution by September, global stocks will continue to deplete and prices will rise.
Gold, on the contrary, has lost 337 rubles per gram in price since the beginning of 2025. On June 24, 2025, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation set the price for this metal at 8,478 rubles.
Norilsk Nickel
