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Feb 13, 2026

Copper prices have retreated after a strong rally in 2025, with supply disruptions in Indonesia and South America and tariff disruptions contributing to the pullback, according to satellite data that showed January smelter activity at the lowest on record with 14.3% of global smelting capacity inactive, with significant regional divergence, particularly outside of China where active tonnage is 1.2 million tonnes lower than the same period last year, with the steepest year-on-year drop coming from Asia and Oceania accounting for over 850,000 tonnes of the decline.
Source: www.mining.com

Gold prices plummeted below $5,000 per ounce on Thursday as investors revised their expectations of a potential Federal Reserve rate cut after better-than-expected US labor data. The drop of up to 4% was fueled by profit-taking and a cascading effect triggered by stops placed below the $5,000 level. Despite the historic selloff in January, gold remains up 17% on the year, with some banks projecting prices to reach $6,000 an ounce this year due to strong retail investments and continued central bank buying.
Source: www.mining.com

According to Reuters, Zijin Mining will begin producing lithium at the Manono Lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo in June, with exports following immediately, after a delay from the company's previous indication of a first-quarter 2026 start. The project is at the center of ongoing arbitration after Congo cancelled Australian miner AVZ's permit and reassigned part of the site to Manono Lithium, a joint venture where Zijin holds 61% with Cominiere and the Congolese state owning the remainder. Despite depressed lithium prices and US efforts to redirect Congolese critical minerals towards Western markets, challenging China's African dominance, Zijin is moving forward with the project.
Source: www.miningmx.com

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