On The Increase

Demand for good-quality metals amplifying – ARM

- Martin Creamer

Global climate change mitigation is amplifying the demand for good-quality, low-impurity metals, which are being rewarded with high price premiums.

There is a huge drive in China towards better quality, which will eventually use less energy and cause less pollution.

The JSE-listed African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), headed by founder and executive chairperson Patrice Motsepe, is well positioned to feed into global markets that are demanding lower pollution.

The premium for lumpy iron-ore, which was $1/t in May, is currently above the $15/t mark, and manganese that has low levels of impurity is preferred, as it lowers the cost of steelmaking.

Increased environmental controls in China and efficiency objectives at Chinese steel mills have resulted in a notable increase in premiums being paid and higher levels of crude steel production have resulted in a marked improvement in manganese ore prices.