Nickel4 Mar 2022 16:13
Nickel futures surged above the $26,400 per tonne level for the first time since May of 2011, as Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine sparked renewed concerns over the metal supply.
Along with prospects for loss of supply from the world's third-larges, robust demand from the stainless steel and battery and dwindling inventories lent further optimism to the metal bulls. Nickel stocks in LME-registered warehouses have dropped almost 70% since April last year to 83,328 tonnes
$27,582/t
Zinc also rising
“ Zinc futures skyrocketed to above $4,000 a tonne in the first trading week of March, a level not seen since May of 2007, on lingering concerns of further supply disruptions due to prolonged high energy prices. Mounting sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine led to an international energy crunch, which, in turn, could spark additional supply disruptions of energy-intensive zinc if European smelters decide electricity prices are too high to keep smelters running.”
$4087/t
Cobalt also rising
$75,800