Welcome to Arian Holding's daily commodity briefing. Below is a concise read on where key industrial materials are heading today, with practical takeaways for buyers. For specifications, grades and quotations, each section links through to the relevant product catalogue page.
Today at a glance
| Commodity | Direction | Read | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron ore & steel | Softer | Ore easing from ~US$105/t on ample supply; rebar steady-to-soft (~US$590/t FOB Turkey) | Steel Products |
| Copper | Firm | LME near record ~US$13,800/t on tight supply and electrification demand | Non-Ferrous |
| Aluminium & zinc | Steady | Aluminium ~US$3,500/t, zinc ~US$3,500/t on the LME | Non-Ferrous |
| Industrial minerals | Stable | Barite, gypsum & aggregates tracking infrastructure demand | Minerals |
| Petrochemicals | Mixed | Methanol & urea softer; bitumen firmer (~+5% m/m) | Petrochemicals |
| Polymers (PE/PP/PVC) | Steady | Need-to buying; supply still below pre-conflict levels keeps a floor | Polymers |
Steel & iron ore
Iron ore is easing back after touching roughly US$105 per tonne — its highest since January — as shipments from Australia and Brazil hold near two-year highs and Chinese port inventories stay elevated against seasonally subdued demand. Chinese futures slipped to a near two-month low this week. That keeps long products soft-to-steady, with rebar around US$590/t FOB Turkey. For project buyers, this remains a constructive window to lock certified-grade tonnage on forward programmes. See current grades and standards on our Steel Products and Semi-Finished Steel pages, both part of our Industrial Products & Commodities sector.
Copper & non-ferrous
Non-ferrous metals remain the firmest corner of the complex. Copper is trading near record levels around US$13,800/t on the LME, with Goldman Sachs lifting its year-end 2026 forecast to about US$13,735/t on structural tightness, supply disruption and electrification and AI-infrastructure demand. Aluminium is holding near US$3,500/t and zinc around US$3,500/t. Buyers of ingots, billets, cathodes and wire rod should plan for elevated pricing; explore specifications on our Non-Ferrous Metals catalogue.
Industrial minerals
Industrial minerals — barite, bentonite, gypsum, aggregates and cement clinker — are tracking steady, underpinned by infrastructure and construction activity across the GCC and wider region. Availability is reliable through our quarry and partner network, backed by lab certification and the logistics strength described in our Supply Chain & Logistics capability. Browse grades on the Industrial Minerals page, part of our Mining, Minerals & Natural Stone sector.
Petrochemicals
Petrochemical markets are mixed. Methanol softened across Asia as spot enquiries cooled after aggressive April buying, and urea has pulled back sharply over the past month to around US$398/t (though still higher year-on-year). Bitumen, by contrast, is firmer — up roughly 5% over the month on feedstock and supply pressures. For contract buyers, near-term softness in methanol and urea is an opportunity to secure cover. See available products — urea, sulphur, bitumen grades, base oils and methanol — on our Petrochemicals & Chemicals page.
Plastics & polymers
Polymer markets (PE, PP, PVC) have steadied after a volatile spring. Converters across Southeast Asia have shifted to need-to buying to preserve working capital, yet regional supply remains below pre-conflict levels, keeping a floor under prices — and India's producers have nudged PE/PP up on supply discipline despite softer international offers. Net: a balanced window for converters to replenish without chasing the market. View resin and film options on our Plastics & Polymers page.
What this means for buyers
With ferrous soft, copper firm and petrochemicals mixed, a selective, forward-cover approach is sensible this week — locking steel, methanol and urea cover while staying disciplined on copper exposure. Arian Holding's global sourcing and quality-assurance teams can structure compliant, multi-grade supply across all of the above. Request a quote and our trade desk will respond with current, firm pricing for your specifications.
Sources: Trading Economics (iron ore, copper, urea, bitumen); London Metal Exchange; Goldman Sachs Research; SteelOrbis; ChemOrbis; Polymerupdate. Figures are indicative market levels around June 12, 2026 and are provided for general information, not as trading advice.