Metals covers aluminum, bauxite, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, graphite, iron ore, lead, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rare earths, silver, steel, tin, zinc. What moves them together: Chinese industrial demand, smelting and refining concentration, mine disruptions and strikes, the energy transition, the US dollar and interest rates.
Commodities in this category
Metals commodities with top producers and latest prices
Commodity
Top producers
Latest price
12 months
Aluminum A light metal smelted from alumina, which is refined from bauxite ore; the chain runs mine (bauxite) to refinery (alumina) to smelter (metal).
Share of world aluminum production: China 61%, India 5.7%, Russia 5.3%, Rest of world 28%.China 61%, India 6%, Russia 5% (2025)
$3,251/t LME cash, high grade
+25%
Bauxite The ore of aluminum: a tropical weathering product refined into alumina, which is then smelted into metal.
Share of world bauxite production: Guinea 34%, Australia 22%, China 20%, Rest of world 24%.Guinea 34%, Australia 22%, China 20% (2025)
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Chromium The metal that makes stainless steel stainless, mined as chromite ore and smelted into ferrochrome.
Share of world chromium production: South Africa 45%, Turkey 18%, Kazakhstan 14%, Rest of world 24%.South Africa 45%, Turkey 18%, Kazakhstan 14% (2025)
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Cobalt A metal recovered mostly as a by-product of copper and nickel mining, used in battery cathodes and superalloys.
Share of world cobalt production: DR Congo 74%, Indonesia 14%, Russia 2.5%, Rest of world 9.1%.DR Congo 74%, Indonesia 14%, Russia 2% (2025)
$55,873/t Cobalt, 99.8% minimum purity, LME spot
+70%
Copper A conductive red metal mined as ore, concentrated, smelted and refined into cathode for wiring, motors and pipes.
Share of world copper production: Chile 23%, DR Congo 14%, Peru 12%, Rest of world 51%.Chile 23%, DR Congo 14%, Peru 12% (2025)
$14,326/t LME cash, grade A cathode
+48%
Gold A precious metal mined from ore and recycled from jewellery, held as bars and coins by central banks and investors and worn as jewellery.
Share of world gold production: China 12%, Russia 9.4%, Australia 8.5%, Rest of world 71%.China 12%, Russia 9%, Australia 8% (2025)
$4,411/troy oz London PM fix
+31%
Graphite A crystalline form of carbon, mined as flake or amorphous ore and processed into battery anodes, refractories and lubricants.
Share of world graphite production: China 78%, Madagascar 4.4%, Tanzania 4.2%, Rest of world 14%.China 78%, Madagascar 4%, Tanzania 4% (2025)
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Iron ore Rock rich in iron oxides, mined in bulk and shipped to blast furnaces to make steel; the most traded dry-bulk cargo.
Share of world iron ore production: Australia 38%, Brazil 16%, India 12%, Rest of world 33%.Australia 38%, Brazil 16%, India 12% (2025)
$96.3/dmtu 62% Fe fines, CFR China spot
-3%
Lead A dense, soft metal used overwhelmingly in lead-acid batteries, and the most recycled of the base metals.
Share of world lead production: China 42%, Australia 11%, Peru 6.4%, Rest of world 41%.China 42%, Australia 11%, Peru 6% (2025)
$1,855/t LME cash
-5%
Lithium A light metal extracted from hard-rock spodumene or salt-lake brine and refined into carbonate, hydroxide or metal for battery cathodes.
Share of world lithium production: Australia 32%, China 21%, Chile 19%, Rest of world 28%.Australia 32%, China 21%, Chile 19% (2025)
$156,809/t Lithium metal, 99% battery grade
+103%
Manganese A metal used almost entirely in steelmaking, where it removes oxygen and sulfur and adds strength; also a battery cathode ingredient.
Share of world manganese production: South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10%, Rest of world 27%.South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10% (2025)
$2,843/t Electrolytic manganese metal, CIF Northwest Europe
+40%
Molybdenum A refractory metal recovered mostly as a by-product of copper mining, added to steel for strength and corrosion resistance.
Share of world molybdenum production: China 37%, Chile 16%, United States 15%, Rest of world 31%.China 37%, Chile 16%, United States 15% (2025)
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Nickel A corrosion-resistant metal used mostly in stainless steel and increasingly in battery cathodes.
Share of world nickel production: Indonesia 67%, Philippines 6.9%, Russia 5.1%, Rest of world 21%.Indonesia 67%, Philippines 7%, Russia 5% (2025)
$16,751/t LME cash
+12%
Palladium A precious metal used mainly in petrol-engine autocatalysts, mined with platinum and nickel.
Share of world palladium production: Russia 44%, South Africa 37%, Canada 8.4%, Rest of world 11%.Russia 44%, South Africa 37%, Canada 8% (2025)
$1,267/troy oz Palladium, spot
+6%
Platinum A precious metal used in autocatalysts, jewellery and industry, mined almost entirely from two geological complexes.
Share of world platinum production: South Africa 73%, Russia 12%, Zimbabwe 11%, Rest of world 4.1%.South Africa 73%, Russia 12%, Zimbabwe 11% (2025)
$1,780/troy oz London afternoon fix
+33%
Rare earths A group of seventeen chemically similar metals, mined together and separated at great cost, used in magnets, catalysts and phosphors.
Share of world rare earths production: China 69%, United States 13%, Australia 7.4%, Rest of world 10%.China 69%, United States 13%, Australia 7% (2025)
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Silver A precious metal that is also an industrial one: most mined silver is a by-product of lead, zinc, copper and gold mines.
Share of world silver production: Mexico 24%, Peru 14%, China 13%, Rest of world 49%.Mexico 24%, Peru 14%, China 13% (2025)
$65.4/troy oz Handy & Harman, New York
+71%
Steel Iron alloyed with a little carbon, made in blast furnaces from iron ore or in electric arc furnaces from scrap; the most used metal on earth.
Share of world steel production: China 52%, India 8.4%, United States 4.3%, Rest of world 36%.China 52%, India 8%, United States 4% (2025)
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Tin A soft metal used mostly as solder in electronics, plus tinplate and chemicals; the smallest of the major base metals.
Share of world tin production: China 24%, Indonesia 21%, Peru 11%, Rest of world 43%.China 24%, Indonesia 21%, Peru 11% (2025)
$55,385/t LME cash
+64%
Zinc A metal used mainly to galvanize steel against rust, plus die-casting alloys and brass.
Share of world zinc production: China 32%, Peru 12%, Australia 8.5%, Rest of world 48%.China 32%, Peru 12%, Australia 8% (2025)
$3,875/t LME cash, special high grade
+39%
Price index since 1960
Metals and minerals indexBase metals index
Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), monthly indices, 2010 = 100, published 2026-09-02. CC BY 4.0.
Indices are monthly averages and lag the market; informational only, not investment advice.