$ Pricing $

• Base metals (2023 USD price)

  • Copper: 8,276/ton / 13,887/ton (Jan/2024) - top producers of Cu: Chile, Peru, DRC, China

    • App: conducts both heat & electricity very well

  • Nickel: 19,644/ton - top producers of Ni: Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia

    • App: 68% are used in stainless steel; used in geothermal power plants, EVs, battery cathodes

  • Lead: 2,252/ton - top producers of Pb: China, Australia, U.S., Mexico

    • App: Lead–acid batteries

  • Aluminum: 2,184/ton - top producers of Al: China, India, Russia, Canada

    • App: Solar panels & wind turbines

  • Steel: 711/ton - top producers of pig Iron: China, India, Japan, U.S.

    • Iron ore: 110/ton (Australia, Brazil, China, India)

      • ​App: 98% of iron ore goes into steel-making

  • Zinc: 2,800/ton - top producers of Zn: China, Peru, Australia, U.S.

    • App: Galvanizing, wind power​

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• Battery metals (2023 USD price)

  • Lithium (Li2CO3): 46,700/ton (Q2/2023) / 13,17/ton (Jan/2024): a drop of around 80% in 2022 - top producers of Li: Australia, Chile, China, Argentina

    • App: Cell phone, laptop, EV, and stationary batteries​

  • Cobalt: 32,688/ton - top producers of Co: DRC, Russia, Australia, Philippines

    • App: Battery cathode​s

  • Graphite: 2,281/ton - top producers of natural C: China, Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil

    • App: Battery anodes. (ps.: graphite is a non-metal, but a good electricity conductor).

  • Manganese (MnO2): 4,360/ton - top producers of Mn: South Africa, Gabon, Australia, China

    • App: Ferroalloys, batteries

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• Critical metals

  • Rare earths oxides: top producers of rare-earth-oxide (REO) equivalent: China, U.S., Australia, Burma

    • Neodymium USD 140,000/ton / 113,20/ton (Jan/2024)

      • App: Permanent magnets for electric motors of wind power & EVs

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• Rare metals

  • Gold: USD 1,860/ounce - top producers of Au: China, Australia, Russia, Canada

    • App: Jewelry (47%), physical bars (17%), electrical & electronics (connectors, contacts) (6%)

  • Silver: USD 22/ounce - top producers of Ag: Mexico, China, Peru, Australia

    • App: World’s best conductor, used in electronics, solar panels etc; around 10% of global silver use is for solar PV (cost of silver accounts for 10% of the PV module mfg. cost)

  • Platinum: USD 940/ounce - top producers of Pt: South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe, Canada

    • App: PEM Electrolyzers

  • Palladium: USD 1,700/ounce - top producers of Pd: South Africa, Russia, Canada, U.S.

    • App: Catalytic converters for vehicles, solar panels

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