SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: March 31 - April 4, 2025

April 04, 2025

Copper Price Falls to Two-Week Low on Tariff Worries

Copper prices fell sharply to the lowest in two weeks on Monday, as concerns over US President Trump’s tariff policies begin to hit the industrial metal. Three-month copper futures on the COMEX fell 1.8% as of 1 p.m. ET to $5.0375 per lb., or roughly $11,100 per tonne. In comparison, the benchmark three-month copper on the LME fell only 0.5% to $9,795 per tonne. The large price gaps between the two markets have now shrunk by about $400 since its peak, reducing the potential profits to arbitrage traders. (Source: Reuters)

Trump’s Global Tariffs Drive Gold and Silver Prices to Multi-Session Highs

U. S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new global tariffs on Wednesday afternoon, in a move that roiled markets and sent gold and silver prices to session highs. Gold prices whipsawed during Trump’s remarks, with spot gold oscillating between $3,106 and $3,145 per ounce before stabilizing in a range between $3,127 and $3,138 per ounce toward the end of the speech. Silver prices also caught a strong bid during the tariff announcement, with spot silver shooting to a session high of $34.154 at 4:30 pm EDT before pulling back to support near $33.890 per ounce. (Source: Kitco News)

Gold Prices Extend Rise After Trump Unveils Tariff Plans

Gold prices extended gains on Wednesday to hover near all-time highs, boosted by safe-haven inflows after U.S. President Donald Trump announces reciprocal tariffs that would escalate a trade war. Spot gold was up 0.6% at $3,129.46 an ounce. U.S. gold futures settled 0.6% higher at $3,166.20. Trump said on Wednesday that he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the United States and higher duties on some of the country’s biggest trading partners, in a move that ratchets up a trade war that he kicked off on his return to the White House. (Source: Reuters)

Petstar Speeds up Water Neutrality Journey with Veolia in Mexico

Veolia Water Technologies says that it enables PetStar to recover 370 cubic meters of water daily through advanced wastewater reuse technologies — equivalent to half the daily water consumption of the plant’s surrounding community. This strategic partnership combines PetStar’s circular economy leadership (processing 5.5 billion bottles annually) with Veolia’s cutting-edge water technologies, demonstrating how industry leaders can drive both business growth and environmental protection through water resource conservation. (Source: Veolia)

Calls for Steel Nationalisation Amid Uncertainty Over British Steel Deal

The future of British Steel hangs in the balance as unions and industry leaders urge the UK government to consider nationalisation if a deal cannot be reached with its Chinese owners, the Jingye Group. The proposed closure of two blast furnaces at the Scunthorpe plant has sparked fears of significant job losses, with up to 2,700 positions at risk. British Steel’s decision to launch a consultation on the closures comes amid claims that the furnaces are no longer financially sustainable. The government had offered a £500 million support package to aid the company’s transition to greener steel production, but negotiations have reportedly stalled. Industry body UK Steel has warned that the closure would mark the end of steelmaking in Scunthorpe, a site with over 160 years of history, and could leave the UK as the only G7 nation unable to produce virgin steel. (Source: BBC News)

Action Plan on the Anvil to Strengthen Vizag Steel Plant

It is reported that the Union and State governments of India are formulating a comprehensive action plan to strengthen the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). As part of this initiative, a delegation from the Union Ministry of Steel held discussions with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday at his residence in Undavalli. The discussions primarily revolved around the follow-up actions required after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre sanctioned a package for the revitalisation of the steel plant. Union Minister of State for Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, who participated in the meeting, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for deploying the State Special Protection Force (SPF) to ensure the security of the steel plant. (Source: The Hindu)

Codelco Regains Title as World’s Top Copper Producer

Chile’s Codelco has regained title as the world’s largest copper producer, narrowly beating BHP by 10,000 tonnes, according to an internal report from the company. Codelco posted total annual production of 1.44 million tonnes. According to Bloomberg Intelligence estimates, Melbourne-based BHP Billiton’s 2024 copper production should be 1.43 million tonnes. Chief Executive Officer Ruben Alvarado of Codelco said the company is overhauling everything from geological modelling, to mining technology, to beneficiation processes. These key projects are unlocking the hidden value of older mines. Codelco is struggling to recover and catch up from delays and missteps in its projects, after the state-run giant experienced decades of underinvestment. (Source: NAI 500)

Spain Allocates More Than €210 Million to Solar PV Manufacturing

Under the NextGenEU initiative, the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITECO) has awarded more than €210 million (US$227.21 million) in funding to seven solar PV manufacturing projects. The provisional results for the RENOVAL programme were released last week by The Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE in Spanish) which is in charge of the programme. (Source: PV Tech)

Call2Recycle Canada Launches Program in Alberta

Call2Recycle Canada, based in Toronto, has announced the launch of its “Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!” program in Alberta. This initiative, managed under the oversight of the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), aims to expand battery recycling throughout the province. According to Call2Recycle, ARMA has approved the organization as a producer responsibility organization (PRO), which is designed to help producers meet their regulatory requirements under Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation. This regulation, passed in 2022, came into effect on April 1. The program aims to provide Albertans with a convenient, safe, and environmentally responsible method for disposing of used household batteries. (Source: Call2Recycle)

S&P Global Commodity Insights Launches Platts Mixed Plastic Waste Price Assessments for US and Europe

First in market in the US, independent price assessments of mixed plastic waste were announced on March 12 for the United States and Europe by Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, the leading independent provider of information, data, analysis, benchmark prices and workflow solutions for the metals, commodities, chemicals, energy and energy transition markets. The announcement coincides with the 40th anniversary of the World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global. Analysts at S&P Global Commodity Insights believe that mixed plastic waste, mainly polyolefins, will play a significant role in chemical recycling as the global energy transition progresses, offering advantages over mechanical recycling. Traditional mechanical recycling continues to face challenges of mixed and/or contaminated plastics that frequently results in these materials being sent to landfills or incinerated, releasing harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases. Conversely, chemical recycling can decompose complex waste streams into their basic components, enabling greater recycling of plastics that would otherwise be discarded. (Source: S&P Global)

Aqua Metals Reports Milestone Advancements, Strategic Progress, and Sierra ARC Lithium Battery Recycling Campus Developments in 2024

Lithium-ion battery recycler Aqua Metals Inc., based in Reno, Nevada, recently highlighted its key achievements from 2024 and provided an update on its progress for the current year. The company reports that it has reached important technical milestones and produced high-purity materials through its proprietary Li AquaRefining process. In the past year, Aqua Metals delivered industry-first milestones, strengthened commercial partnerships and opportunities, and expanded its strategic vision to build a resilient, low-capex, and rapidly scalable platform for critical mineral recovery in the U.S. The Company’s innovative Li AquaRefining™ process achieved key validation milestones, proving performance at scale while offering superior environmental and economic advantages over conventional recycling methods. (Source: Aqua Metals)

Lithium Americas Reaches Final Investment Decision for Thacker Pass Mine

Lithium Americas said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision (FID) for constructing the first phase of the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. The Thacker Pass project is a joint venture between Lithium Americas and US automaker General Motors. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed in late 2027. “Together, we will develop a US-produced lithium supply chain to reduce American dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals,” said Lithium Americas CEO Jonathan Evans. Vancouver-based Lithium Americas and General Motors, have each contributed an additional $192 million and $100 million, respectively, in cash to the JV, allowing it to achieve a fully funded status for the development of the project’s first phase. (Source: Reuters)

India Court Rejects JSW Steel, Trafigura Request to Clear Certain Met Coke Imports

An Indian court has declined requests from JSW Steel (JSTL.NS) and Trafigura to allow certain shipments of a steelmaking raw material, a court order showed, the latest setback after New Delhi's new policy curbing imports rattled the sector. India from January imposed curbs on imports of low-ash metallurgical coke, or met coke, with country-specific quotas to help domestic suppliers. The move unsettled steel majors, like ArcelorMittal Nippon India, who are concerned about the business impact and quality issues with locally produced met coke. (Source: Reuters)

Russia, US Discussing Rare Earth Metals Projects, Putin Envoy Says

Russia and the United States have started talks on joint rare earth metals and other projects in Russia, and some companies have already expressed an interest in them, President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy said in remarks published on Monday. Amid efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine, minerals cooperation has been floated by both Kyiv and Moscow, though Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants to back out of a proposed deal. (Source: Reuters)

US Excludes Steel, Aluminum, Gold from Reciprocal Tariffs

The White House said steel and aluminum imports won’t be subject to reciprocal tariffs in a move that will provide at least some relief to domestic buyers already incurring 25% duties on all imports of the key metals used in everything from automobiles to dishwashers. Steel and aluminum already subject to Section 232 tariffs won’t incur the duties announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, the White House said in a fact sheet. Gold and copper were cited as having exemptions as well. The determination indicates the administration at least gave some leeway for metals markets that Trump has long prioritized. The president in February ordered a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, removing all exemptions as he began to hit a reset-button on a widening trade war. (Source: Bloomberg News)

Trump Eyes Executive Order to Fast-Track Deep-Sea Mining

The Trump administration is reportedly considering an executive order that would accelerate deep-sea mining in international waters by allowing companies to bypass a United Nations-backed review process. The order, according to sources cited by Reuters, would affirm the United States’ right to extract critical minerals from the ocean floor, enabling companies to seek permits directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The move would mark President Donald Trump’s latest push to secure international sources of nickel, copper, and other essential minerals. It follows his recent invocation of emergency powers to boost domestic mineral production. (Source: Reuters)