Global metals markets remained highly mixed as precious metals, industrial metals, and battery materials moved in different directions. Silver and lithium emerged as the biggest yearly gainers, while gold and platinum faced short term pressure despite strong long term performance.
Gold prices traded at 4526.52 USD per troy ounce after falling 0.94% during the day. The metal remained up 4.79% in 2026 and recorded a strong 37.13% yearly gain. Monthly performance stayed weak with a 3.34% decline.
Silver prices slipped 1.98% daily to 76.531 USD per troy ounce. Despite the short term drop, silver continued to outperform most major metals with a massive 129.56% yearly surge and a 7.18% gain year to date.
Copper prices moved higher by 0.46% and reached 6.3775 USD per pound. The industrial metal posted strong momentum with a 12.21% rise in 2026 and a 35.12% yearly jump.
Silver and copper prices stay strong as industrial demand rises
Silver remained one of the best performing commodities in the metals sector due to strong industrial and investment demand. Weekly gains reached 3.68% while monthly prices also stayed positive.
Copper also continued its upward trend as global infrastructure and manufacturing demand supported prices. The metal gained 5.89% over the month and remained among the strongest industrial commodities this year.
Steel prices in China traded at 3163 CNY per tonne after declining 0.82% during the day. The commodity posted only a modest 2.16% gain year to date and remained 4.29% higher compared to last year.
HRC Steel performed much better than standard steel benchmarks. Prices stood at 1156.98 USD per tonne and gained nearly 24% this year. Yearly growth reached 40.16%.
Lithium prices jump 190.32% YoY despite short term weakness
Lithium prices remained volatile but continued to dominate the battery metals market. The commodity traded at 180000 CNY per tonne after falling 1.77% during the day. Even with recent weakness, lithium prices surged 51.90% year to date and recorded a huge 190.32% yearly increase.
Cobalt Hydroxide prices stayed mostly unchanged at 56524.25 USD per metric tonne. The market still posted a strong 86.12% yearly rise despite weaker monthly and yearly momentum.
Silicon prices remained under pressure. The commodity slipped 0.18% daily and stayed down 4.16% in 2026. However, yearly gains still reached nearly 12%.
Titanium prices were flat at 48.50 CNY per kilogram. The metal showed limited movement across weekly and monthly periods and remained 3.96% lower compared to last year.
Platinum rises 82.04% YoY while iron ore prices weaken
Platinum prices climbed 1.24% during the day to 1963.80 USD per troy ounce. Despite the positive daily move, the metal remained down 5.43% this year. On a yearly basis, platinum still delivered a massive 82.04% gain.
Iron ore prices showed weaker momentum across both Chinese and global benchmarks. Iron Ore CNY traded at 781 CNY per tonne with a 1.51% daily decline. The commodity also remained down 1.08% year to date.
Global iron ore prices stood at 109.67 USD per tonne and slipped 0.11% daily. The benchmark posted only a modest 2.37% yearly gain in 2026.
Scrap steel prices also remained weak. The commodity declined 3.85% during the week and 3.27% during the month despite maintaining a 17.33% yearly increase.