Global Metals & Minerals Industry
The global metals and mining industry was worth almost $2,320 billion in 2010, according to MarketLine. It is expected to grow rapidly, exceeding a 19% annual rate in the five-year period ending 2015. By the close of 2015, the global metals and mining industry should be worth almost $5,580 billion. More than half of the world's metal output is used by the construction and automotive industries, which both have a knock-on effect on the metals market. Other sectors relying on the metal industry include industrial machinery, electrical equipment and energy.
The industry involves the extraction and processing of metals and minerals, and encompasses markets for aluminum, base metals, iron and steel as well as precious metals and minerals, including platinum, silver, gold, diamond, uranium and other minerals.
Key Metal and Mineral Segments
- Iron and steel comprise the largest segment of the metals and minerals industry. The global steel market showed close to 40% growth in 2010, according to MarketLine. It is expected to see a jump of more than 140% in just five years. By 2015 the market’s volume will exceed 1,567,000 thousand metric tons, a near 16% rise in the five-year period. Market share is highly concentrated in Asia-Pacific, representing almost 65% of the overall global steel market. The number-one company on the market is Arcelor Mittal, holding close to 7% market volume.
- The global rare earth metals market is being driven by rising demand, which is expected to grow at a yearly rate of more than 7% to 2015, when it will hit 180,000 metric tons, according to Freedonia. Overall earth metals revenue reached $3 billion in 2010, and is expected to reach more than $9 billion in 2015. Market growth will be fuelled largely by demand for electronic products, battery alloys, permanent magnets and the automotive industry.
- The stainless steel sector represents over 50% of the global nickel market. Industrial demand for nickel will continue to drive demand, with nickel consumption expected to grow at a rate of 5% annually from 2011 to 2014, according to research from RNCOS.
- The global copper industry was worth over $90 billion in 2010, according to MarketLine. Copper is used not only in the construction industry but also for global connectivity as it is used for cables and wires, making it indispensable for delivering power, facilitating communication and transporting drinking water. The global copper market is expected to grow at a yearly rate of over 9.5% between 2010 and 2015, making the overall market worth almost $143 billion in 2015.
- There is currently around 165,000 metric tons of gold above ground. About 60% of this precious metal is used to make jewelry. The highest demand for gold comes from the Middle East, India and Asia, which together consumed 70% of the gold jewelry produced in 2009. Gold is also produced for central bank reserves, investment and technology.
- The US is a key player on the global aluminum market, producing more than $40 billion worth of aluminum according to Taiyou Research. There are 300 plants in operation throughout 35 US states, producing more than 25 billion pounds of metal annually. Aluminum has many uses such as packaging and building, and it is also widely used in the medical and transport industries.

Market Outlook
Consolidation continues to put metal and mineral industry companies in a strong position regarding pricing practices, and allows them to benefit from savings on production costs through mass scale activity. The industry is expanding in developing countries, which means savings on operation and labor costs. As related industries undergo varying degrees of recovery after the economic downturn, the metal and minerals industry will also rebound and continue to grow.
Leading Industry Associations
...More »
» Download Public Reports
About 30 000 reports
- Industry report
- May 2012
- 25 pages
... Graduated as a geologist in 1979 and has extensive industry experience in both exploration and mining positions worldwide working for karmin exploration, boliden ab, globestar mining corp. And aurelian ...
May 2012
... And the 100 day moving average but failed and this morning sees an open of $1661, slightly lower than the last. Investors are reluctant to bid for the metal now that price is still stuck in a month ...
May 2012
... Time to time, disputes invariably arise due to fluctuations in the mechanical properties as well as inconsistent dimensional deviations in workmanship of steel products. Although ...
May 2012
... Sheets or details of the estimation methodology completed, nor has buchans minerals undertaken the work necessary to verify or classify the mineral resource estimate. Buchans minerals is not treating ...
May 2012
... Or losses similar to those examples. Information contained herein was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to its accuracy. Precious metals report- wednesday, may 2 ...
May 2012
... Of gold) target volume can be met from the projected supply of certified asm gold. Key north american & european markets uk industry leading the global market in ethical jewellery 05/05/2012 benefits ...
May 2012
... Applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the pea will be realized. Initiating the federal and provincial ...
» Purchase Premium Reports
(From $ 24 - $ 4 720)
About 6 900 reports
- $ 5 900
- Industry report
- March 2012
- by Freedonia
World demand to rise 2.9% annually through 2015 Global demand for salt is projected to climb 2.9 percent annually through 2015 to 327 million metric tons, valued at $13.6 billion. Increased salt consumption ...
March 2012
$ 4 950
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Metal Stampings, Forgings, and Castings in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Metal Stampings, Metal Forgings (Iron & Steel Forgings, & Non-Ferrous ...
March 2012
$ 4 200
This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Bauxite and Alumina in Thousands of Metric Tons by the following Product Segments- Bauxite (Metallurgical and Non-Metallurgical), and Alumina (Metallurgical ...
May 2012
$ 4 000
China's demand for steel has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow. This new study examines China's economic trends, investment ...
April 2012
$ 4 000
China's demand for asphalt has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow. This new study examines China's economic trends, investment ...
March 2012
$ 4 000
China rare earth metal mining industry, 2012 is valuable for anyone who wants to invest in the rare earth metal mining industry, to get Chinese investments; to import into China or export from China, to ...
April 2012
$ 3 995
Conductive inks are a simple and unglamorous layer but they will constitute a hefty $2.86 billion market in 2012. This market is forecasted to rise to $3.36 billion in 2018, with $735 million captured ...