Join getAbstract to access the summary!

In the Pits?

Join getAbstract to access the summary!

In the Pits?

Mining and Metals Firms and the Slowing of the Supercycle

EIU,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

The “supercycle” in mining and metals has wound down, but it’s not over yet, and firms must adapt.

auto-generated audio
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×
auto-generated audio

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

The days of frenetic growth in the metals and minerals markets are gone, but demand from global urbanization continues apace. The current slump means the industry is now backpedaling on investment. But Economist Intelligence Unit analyst Christopher Clague reports that, while unmined mineral and ore deposits are becoming increasingly costly to extract, miners that spend now on innovation will have a competitive advantage come the inevitable upswing. getAbstract recommends this compelling, cogent argument to those in the mining industry as well as to commodities traders and investors seeking a valuable insight.

Summary

Despite a slump in commodities prices since their peaks in 2011, the current industrial commodities “supercycle” – a “sustained period of rising demand and prices” – isn’t over. China’s feverish growth was behind much of the momentum in industrial commodities prices in recent years, but China’s growth has decelerated. Yet the supercycle has not crashed; it has merely plateaued. Demand remains steady as China and other emerging economies continue to rush toward urbanization. Meanwhile, untapped resources are more costly to extract and will need more investment, which will drive...

About the Author

Christopher Clague is a senior analyst on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Asia Custom Research team in Tokyo.

Comment on this summary