Links

www.lme.co.uk

The world’s oldest terminal market in base metals was established in 1876 in the City of London. Today, the LME still operates in the time honoured way of ‘open outcry’ across a ring. The base metals traded are Al umini um, Al umini um Alloy, Copper, Tin, Lead, Zinc, and Nickel. The final cash (prompt) offer price quoted at the close of the 2 nd ring of the morning session is published as the daily settlement price upon which physical trades across the globe are based. This free market, where metals change hands on an ‘in warehouse basis’ in Rotterdam and elsewhere for prompt and forward delivery remains the world’s premier free market for the trade in base metals. Go to this site to find details of prices and more about how the LME works.

www.lbma.org.uk

London has hosted the world’s leading bullion market, dating from the times when the Rothschilds were bankers to the kings of Europe. Today, gold’s twice daily fixings and silver’s single morning fix (commencing at 12.00 noon each working day) are reported. The site also has a host of statistics freely available including prices going back at least 10 years.

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals

The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is a useful site to obtain more information about EU Chemicals Policy and the implications for UK industry.

www.thebulliondesk.com

One of the more informative and dynamic sites on precious metals currently available on the internet. Taking prices direct from a range of worldwide market-makers, the site displays updating prices of Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Osmium, Ruthenium & Rhenium. By subscription, customers can obtain various add-on chart services & special analysis reports.

www.metal-pages.com

This subscription-only service was developed by Nigel Tunna, a former Chairman of the Minor Metals Trade Association, and is informed by the fact that a n umber of its journalists were former traders. Their articles see metal news from a trader’s angle and their price guidance is generally the most accurate available. Their specialization is minor metals but they also cover rare earths and some base metals and ferro-alloy stories too. Their minor metal news from China, where they have a large representation, is hard to beat. However, they are less strong on the developed world and Russia but this will no about improve in future years.

www.minormetals.com

www.metalbulletin.com

Founded in the early part of the 20th century MB was for many years the market leader in metals journalism and the promulgation of price. Although there is now more competition from online rivals, MB’s prices are still influential and form the basis of many contracts in the industry. They are updated twice per week and are now based on MMTA specifications. MB has offices in London, New York and Singapore, and covers all steel and non-ferrous markets, producing a daily newsletter, a weekly magazine and a real-time web site.

www.titanium.org

This is the website of the leading worldwide association that champions the use of Titani um in industry. They organize n umerous events, including an annual conference and exhibition, usually in the U.S.A. Membership of the ITA produces various entitlements, including access to their extensive online library.

www.tanb.org

Based in Brussels, the TIC (as it is known) is a non-profit making organization which seeks to promote the use of Tantalum and Niobium in all their forms. It is also a source of statistics on both elements, arranges conferences and publishes a quarterly bulletin. Of late, it has also occupied itself with defending the interests if TIC members vis a vis regulation of naturally-occurring minerals with very low levels of radioactivity.

www.itia.co.uk

Based in London, the ITIA, like other metals industry associations, is a non-profit making body which promotes the use of Tungsten in industry and is also concerned to defend the use of this element from intrusive regulation. A regular newsletter/market report is published, conferences and symposia are organized and statistics collected.

www.thecdi.com

With 44 members in 18 countries, the CDI is the main source of all statistics about Cobalt supply & demand. The institute publish papers on applications which can be ordered online and are the first port of call for regulatory questions also. The CDI arranges two conferences per year and has a fairly strong budget with which to promote understanding their product.

www.imoa.info

This is the ultimate site for all things ‘Moly’. Here you will find standard specifications for a variety of Molybdenum-containing products, details of applications, information about its physics and also its supply and demand.

www.intlmag.org

Founded in 1943, the IMA seeks to promote innovation and information about the 429,000 tons per year Magnesium industry. Members include primary producers, recyclers, foundries and fabricators. The association holds seminars and conferences and compiles statistics. Magnesium has many growing uses in automotive and aerospace with new high strength and light alloys being developed to promote fuel efficiency.

www.clear-communications.co.uk

This company has been involved with adapting companies to the effects of new legislation on industry, including the Nickel industry, Zinc, Nuclear and chemicals industry. Their particular skills may have application to the Minor Metals Industry in the fall-out from REACH and further information may be viewed above.

www.smallbusinesseurope.org

smallbusiness|europe is an independent Brussels-based organisation,

providing information, monitoring and representation services to the UK SME (Small & Medium Enterprise) community. The organisation works mostly via UK SME representative and membership organisations, as well as with some individual SMEs. It aims to facilitate a better understanding of EU policy impacting on SMEs and give the SME community the possibility to impact upon policy as it is being developed in Brussels.