Welcome to Arian Holding's daily commodity briefing. Today's read leans on steel and ferrous markets, where iron ore has slipped back below US$100 per tonne while carbon-border policy reshapes European trade flows. Copper stays firm, and petrochemicals and polymers are finding a floor as fresh Strait of Hormuz disruption tightens Middle East supply. 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 eased to ~US$98/t at end-July; rebar mixed by region, EU CBAM levies now live on high-carbon imports | Steel Products |
| Copper | Firm | LME cash near ~US$13,900/t on structural tightness and electrification demand | Non-Ferrous |
| Aluminium & zinc | Steady | Aluminium ~US$3,200/t, zinc ~US$3,610/t cash on the LME | Non-Ferrous |
| Industrial minerals | Stable | Barite, gypsum & aggregates tracking steady regional construction demand | Minerals |
| Petrochemicals | Firmer | Urea rebounded ~16% m/m to ~US$420/t; bitumen firmer on Middle East supply pressure | Petrochemicals |
| Polymers (PE/PP/PVC) | Firmer | Asian HDPE ~US$1,365–1,380/t CFR; India PP up ₹5/kg, PVC up ₹3/kg from Aug 1 | Polymers |
Steel & iron ore
Ferrous is the softest corner of the complex to start August. Iron ore eased to around US$98 per tonne at the end of July, slipping back below the US$100 mark as seaborne supply held firm and Chinese demand stayed seasonally subdued; most forecasters see prices drifting lower through 2026–27. That keeps long products soft-to-mixed, with regional rebar markets diverging — firmer in the US on infrastructure demand, softer across parts of Asia. The bigger structural story is policy: the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has entered its definitive period, applying levies to high-carbon steel imports and pushing buyers toward certified, lower-carbon and documented-origin tonnage. For project buyers, this is a constructive window to lock certified-grade material 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 part of the market. Copper is trading near record levels, with LME cash around US$13,900/t on structural supply tightness, disruption risk and electrification and AI-infrastructure demand. Aluminium is holding near US$3,200/t cash and zinc around US$3,610/t. Buyers of cathodes, billets, ingots and wire rod should continue to plan for elevated pricing and budget conservatively. Explore specifications on our Non-Ferrous Metals catalogue, and lean on our quality-assurance team for mill-certified, on-spec material.
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 strength described in our Supply Chain & Logistics capability. Browse grades on the Industrial Minerals page.
Petrochemicals & polymers
Petrochemicals are firming. Urea rebounded roughly 16% over the past month to around US$420/t — though it remains below year-ago levels — while bitumen is firmer on renewed Middle East supply pressure. In polymers, prices have turned up: Asian HDPE is quoted near US$1,365–1,380/t CFR, and Indian producers raised PP by about ₹5/kg and PVC by ₹3/kg effective 1 August, as fresh Strait of Hormuz disruption tightens regional feedstock and cargo flows. For converters and contract buyers, the window to replenish at the recent lows is closing. See available grades on our Petrochemicals & Chemicals and Plastics & Polymers pages.
Freight & logistics
Ocean freight is a two-speed market. Global container spot rates softened again into early August — Shanghai–Rotterdam around US$4,700 per FEU — even as carriers prepare August General Rate Increases, with new FAK levels near US$7,800/FEU on Asia–North Europe from mid-month. Intra-Asia lanes stay relatively firm on feeder constraints and lingering schedule disruption. Landed-cost planning matters more than headline commodity moves right now; our global sourcing desk structures delivered pricing to smooth this volatility.
What this means for buyers
With ferrous soft, copper firm and petrochemicals and polymers turning higher, a selective forward-cover approach is sensible this week — locking certified steel tonnage into a soft ore window while securing polymer and bitumen cover before Middle East supply tightness feeds through. 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, urea); London Metal Exchange; Fastmarkets; SteelOnTheNet; ChemAnalyst; ChemOrbis; Global Trade Magazine; FreightWaves. Figures are indicative market levels around August 3, 2026 and are provided for general information, not as trading advice.