Markets open the week with ferrous finding a floor, non-ferrous extending gains on falling exchange stocks, and sulphur still the stand-out mover in the petrochemical complex. Below is a concise read on where key industrial materials are heading, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel & iron ore | Firming | Turkish rebar up ~US$5/t w/w to ~US$575–585/t FOB; ore steady near US$95/t | Steel Products |
| Copper | Firm | Up ~2% on the recent LME week; exchange stocks still drawing down | Non-Ferrous |
| Aluminium & zinc | Firm | Aluminium led the LME complex (~+3% w/w); zinc up but choppy | Non-Ferrous |
| Industrial minerals | Stable | Barite, gypsum & aggregates tracking steady GCC project demand | Minerals |
| Petrochemicals | Tight | Sulphur near record highs — roughly doubled since January; urea elevated | Petrochemicals |
| Polymers (PE/PP) | Firmer | SE Asia HDPE ~US$1,270–1,280/t, PP film edging up; August upswing flagged | Polymers |
Steel & iron ore
Long products are firming off their summer lows. Turkish rebar moved up by around US$5/t week-on-week to roughly US$575–585/t FOB, with wire rod a few dollars higher at US$580–585/t, while CIS rebar held stable at US$550–560/t, per the Arab Iron and Steel Union's mid-August assessment. Chinese rebar futures have rebounded above CNY 3,000/t from early-August lows. Iron ore is steady near US$95/t — still down close to 4% on the month, which keeps mill margins workable and finished-steel offers disciplined. For buyers, the divergence matters: raw materials flat, finished longs creeping up — a reasonable window to cover forward programmes before the trend consolidates. See grades and standards on our Steel Products and Semi-Finished Steel pages, part of our Industrial Products & Commodities sector.
Copper & non-ferrous
The base-metals complex closed its most recent full LME week broadly higher — aluminium leading at around +3%, copper up ~2% and zinc up just under 2%, with aluminium and copper finishing near their weekly highs, per the LME weekly review. Exchange inventories continue to draw: LME copper stocks were last reported near 214,000 tonnes and aluminium near 253,000 tonnes, both declining day-on-day. Falling visible stocks against firm demand argue against waiting for a meaningful pullback on cathodes, ingots and billets. Specifications are on our Non-Ferrous Metals catalogue.
Industrial minerals
Industrial minerals — barite, bentonite, gypsum, aggregates and cement clinker — remain steady, underpinned by GCC infrastructure and construction programmes. Availability through our quarry and partner network is reliable, backed by lab certification and the freight coordination described in our Supply Chain & Logistics capability. Browse grades on the Industrial Minerals page, part of our Mining, Minerals & Natural Stone sector.
Petrochemicals
Sulphur remains the tightest market in the complex: CRU reports prices at or near record highs, having roughly doubled since January, with the sulphuric-acid picture made worse by China's export halt. Urea stays elevated — the World Bank projects a rise of nearly 60% across 2026 — though relief is building as Middle East export availability improves and new Nigerian and Russian tonnage reaches the market late in the year. Buyers with flexibility on sulphur and urea may stagger purchases rather than chase spot; bitumen and methanol continue to track firm crude-linked feedstocks. See urea, sulphur, bitumen grades, base oils and methanol on our Petrochemicals & Chemicals page.
Plastics & polymers
Polymer markets are edging higher into late August. Southeast Asian offers were last assessed around US$1,270/t for HDPE injection, US$1,280/t for HDPE blow-moulding and US$1,265/t for PP film (the latter up US$5), and ChemAnalyst flags a renewed August upswing in packaging polymers as Strait of Hormuz-related disruption keeps regional supply tight — HDPE remains roughly 40% above pre-crisis levels. Converters holding thin inventories should consider covering September needs early rather than buying into a rising market. View resin and film options on our Plastics & Polymers page.
Freight watch
Drewry's World Container Index rose 1% to US$4,339 per 40ft in its latest reading, led by the Transpacific — Shanghai–New York up 10% to about US$8,700 and Shanghai–Los Angeles up 6%. Carriers are restricting capacity with repeated blank sailings, and new Asia–Mediterranean FAK rates of US$6,700–7,100/40ft took effect from August 15. Landed-cost calculations on bulk and containerised cargo should build in this firmer freight floor; our logistics team can quote delivered terms on request.
What this means for buyers
With longs firming, non-ferrous stocks drawing down, polymers turning up and freight rising, the balance of risk this week favours earlier rather than later cover on steel, resins and non-ferrous requirements, while staggering sulphur and urea purchases where schedules allow. 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: Arab Iron and Steel Union; Trading Economics; LME Insight weekly review; CRU Group; World Bank commodity outlook; ChemAnalyst; Plastic4trade; Drewry World Container Index. Figures are indicative market levels around August 17, 2026 and are provided for general information, not as trading or investment advice.