Major events in the nonferrous metals industry in April 2026
On April 1, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held talks with French President Macron. The two heads of state expressed serious concerns about export controls on critical minerals, and agreed to carry out strategic cooperation to strengthen the supply chain and also reached consensus on cooperation in the procurement of rare earths.
On April 2, the Internal Market Protection Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission released the final ruling on the first sunset review of anti-dumping duties on aluminum strips originating in China and Azerbaijan, maintaining the anti-dumping duties determined in Announcement No. 115 of 2020 and continuing to impose anti-dumping duties on the products involved for a period of five years.
On April 6, the United States will begin to adjust the additional ad valorem tariffs imposed on imported steel, aluminum, copper and related derivatives. Under the new regulations, products made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper will continue to be subject to an import ad valorem tariff of 50%, but the tariff calculation will be based on the full customs valuation of the imported product. In addition, derivative products made primarily of steel, aluminum or copper will be subject to an ad valorem tariff of 25%.
On April 10, the ignition ceremony of Indonesia Hanrui Nickel Co., Ltd.'s oxygen-rich continuous blowing high-ice nickel project with an annual output of 20,000 tons of nickel metal was held in Huabao Industrial Park, Indonesia.
On April 10, China Baotou Steel Co., Ltd. and Northern Rare Earth successively announced that the related transaction price of rare earth concentrates in the second quarter of 2026 was adjusted to 38,804 yuan/ton (dry volume, REO=50%) excluding tax, an increase of 11,970 yuan/ton from 26,834 yuan/ton in the first quarter, an increase of 44.6%.
On April 15, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources officially implemented new regulations to adjust the benchmark prices of nickel ore and bauxite (HPM).
On April 20, American Rare Earth Corporation announced that it planned to acquire Brazilian rare earth miner SerraVerde in a cash and stock form, with a total transaction value of approximately US$2.8 billion.
On April 21, it was reported that Zambian copper smelters and sulfuric acid producers Chambishi and Mopani would suspend production due to extended maintenance. Chambishi Smelter will be discontinued from July to August, and Mopani will be discontinued from August 1 to September 15.
On April 21, a new alumina plant in Guangxi, China, had its roasting furnace ignited in the afternoon and started producing products at the same time, involving a production capacity of 1.2 million tons per year.
On April 23, it was reported that the Bialuansha copper mine plans to resume production in August 2026. According to the Zambian Ministry of Mines, the Luanshya Copper Mine will be put into production in stages, with the upper mining section scheduled to resume production first in August 2026, and the lower mining section (No. 28 Shaft) expected to start production in 2029.
On April 27, data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed that from January to March 2026, the nonferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industry achieved operating income of 2,691.69 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 26.6%; operating costs were 2,484.05 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.8%; total profits were 141.98 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 116.7%.
On April 28, it was reported that China’s Zijin Mining Group plans to invest approximately US$1.5 billion to expand its La Arenal copper mine in Peru to further increase copper mine production.
On April 29, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released the latest mineral resources statistics. China ranks first in the world in reserves of 14 minerals including rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, germanium, indium, fluorite and graphite. In 2025, China's output of 17 minerals, including coal, vanadium, titanium, zinc, rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, indium, gold and tellurium, will rank first in the world.
On April 2, the Internal Market Protection Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission released the final ruling on the first sunset review of anti-dumping duties on aluminum strips originating in China and Azerbaijan, maintaining the anti-dumping duties determined in Announcement No. 115 of 2020 and continuing to impose anti-dumping duties on the products involved for a period of five years.
On April 6, the United States will begin to adjust the additional ad valorem tariffs imposed on imported steel, aluminum, copper and related derivatives. Under the new regulations, products made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper will continue to be subject to an import ad valorem tariff of 50%, but the tariff calculation will be based on the full customs valuation of the imported product. In addition, derivative products made primarily of steel, aluminum or copper will be subject to an ad valorem tariff of 25%.
On April 10, the ignition ceremony of Indonesia Hanrui Nickel Co., Ltd.'s oxygen-rich continuous blowing high-ice nickel project with an annual output of 20,000 tons of nickel metal was held in Huabao Industrial Park, Indonesia.
On April 10, China Baotou Steel Co., Ltd. and Northern Rare Earth successively announced that the related transaction price of rare earth concentrates in the second quarter of 2026 was adjusted to 38,804 yuan/ton (dry volume, REO=50%) excluding tax, an increase of 11,970 yuan/ton from 26,834 yuan/ton in the first quarter, an increase of 44.6%.
On April 15, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources officially implemented new regulations to adjust the benchmark prices of nickel ore and bauxite (HPM).
On April 20, American Rare Earth Corporation announced that it planned to acquire Brazilian rare earth miner SerraVerde in a cash and stock form, with a total transaction value of approximately US$2.8 billion.
On April 21, it was reported that Zambian copper smelters and sulfuric acid producers Chambishi and Mopani would suspend production due to extended maintenance. Chambishi Smelter will be discontinued from July to August, and Mopani will be discontinued from August 1 to September 15.
On April 21, a new alumina plant in Guangxi, China, had its roasting furnace ignited in the afternoon and started producing products at the same time, involving a production capacity of 1.2 million tons per year.
On April 23, it was reported that the Bialuansha copper mine plans to resume production in August 2026. According to the Zambian Ministry of Mines, the Luanshya Copper Mine will be put into production in stages, with the upper mining section scheduled to resume production first in August 2026, and the lower mining section (No. 28 Shaft) expected to start production in 2029.
On April 27, data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed that from January to March 2026, the nonferrous metal smelting and rolling processing industry achieved operating income of 2,691.69 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 26.6%; operating costs were 2,484.05 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.8%; total profits were 141.98 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 116.7%.
On April 28, it was reported that China’s Zijin Mining Group plans to invest approximately US$1.5 billion to expand its La Arenal copper mine in Peru to further increase copper mine production.
On April 29, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources released the latest mineral resources statistics. China ranks first in the world in reserves of 14 minerals including rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, germanium, indium, fluorite and graphite. In 2025, China's output of 17 minerals, including coal, vanadium, titanium, zinc, rare earths, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, antimony, gallium, indium, gold and tellurium, will rank first in the world.
From January to April 2026, China’s import and export data of steel, automobiles, rare earths, home appliances, etc.
Major events in the steel industry in April 2026
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