Market Insights.
Kigali Amendment to HFO Refrigerants: Why HF Demand Holds
Kigali phases down high-GWP HFCs but HFO replacements still need comparable hydrofluoric acid. The fluorspar demand picture is shift, not collapse.
Lead and Zinc 2026: Galvanising Demand vs Mine Depletion
Galvanising still drives zinc and batteries still drive lead — the 12V auxiliary survives the EV transition — but mine supply never replaced the Century, Lisheen, and Skorpion closures.
LiPF₆ Supply Chain 2026: From Acidspar Mine to Battery Cell
Tracing the fluorine in your lithium-ion cell from Kandahar acidspar through HF to electrolyte salt. Why every step is supply-constrained and where the bottleneck moves next.
Copper TC/RC Benchmark 2026: Asia Copper Week Settlement Preview
Spot TCs sat near zero through 2025–2026 while smelters bled. The Freeport–Tongling settlement this November sets the tone for 2027 concentrate flows.
Antimony Price Forecast 2026: Structural-Not-Cyclical Thesis
Antimony trioxide spot exceeded $25,000/MT in Q1 2026 against a $12,000/MT 2024 baseline. A structural-not-cyclical analysis with citations.
Fluorspar Market 2026: Acidspar Tightness vs Metspar Discipline
Acid-grade fluorspar at $550–650/t CIF US Gulf, metspar at $350–420/t. Two products that share a CaF₂ formula but trade on different supply-demand curves.
Antimony Critical-Minerals Status: USGS, CRMA, UK, AU, JP
USGS, EU CRMA, UK CMI, Australia, Japan all list antimony as critical. The specific regulations, classification logic, and procurement implications.
Crude Oil Trade 2026: Pakistan, South Asia, Africa Flows
ICE Brent, NYMEX WTI, DME Oman benchmarks. Pakistan 400 kbpd refining, Dangote 650 kbpd shifting Nigerian flows, East African import-market growth. The 2026 crude-trade map.
Non-Chinese Antimony Supply: Projects, Timelines, and 2030 Outlook
Perpetua's Stibnite Gold 2028, New Brunswick exploration, Oman concentrate work. The non-Chinese antimony projects that could reset the supply map by 2030.
LPG Market 2026: Saudi CP, FEI, and South Asia Demand
Saudi CP propane $550-700/MT 2026. South Asian LPG market 30+ Mt heading toward 40 MTPA by 2030. The trade economics that move cargoes.
Antimony End-Use Breakdown 2026: Flame Retardants, Batteries, Defence
50–60% flame retardants, 15% batteries, 15–20% defence, the rest in glass and plastics catalysts. The end-use breakdown that drives procurement planning.
Why Antimony Ore Supply Can't Scale: The Geology and Mining Math
Why antimony stays in the 80,000–110,000 t/yr global production band despite a doubled price. The geology and mining-cost reasons supply doesn't respond fast.