Since the economic downturn, which led to a sharp decrease in demand across the globe, the metals and mining industry has started traversing a path to recovery with a strong growth foreseen for numerous consumption points across various sectors. Developing economies, especially China and India, are expected play a significant role in this future growth and, continuing the past trends, the iron and steel sector will most probably pick the largest share of the pie owing to mega infrastructure investments planned across nations worldwide. The outlook is also upbeat for other major metals, especially the ones associated with infrastructure development, like zinc and aluminium as well. Gold and copper have also stayed strong in the market despite slumping sales and with economic recovery in close sight, the industry is quite optimistic.
But in spite of these encouraging signals, there are certain challenges which continue to affect the industry making it more volatile than ever. The sector is being largely influenced by risks like resource nationalism (though which local governments are seeking a greater take from the sector beyond taxation), acute skills shortage with new project areas like Mozambique, Mongolia, Indonesia etc. being largely hit, growing social concerns over mining and climate change, making it harder for miners to operate effectively while satisfying the increased expectations from various stakeholders. There are also issues related to increasing cost inflation as well as price and currency volatility which are adding to the woes of the mining companies. Under such a market scenario, maintaining optimum levels of cost effectiveness and operational efficiency while expanding production is expected to be the key to long term sustainability for the global metals and mining industry thus requiring strategic decision making assisted through relevant market data and analytics.
Infraline Energy's Metals and Mining Practice combines Infraline's energy and metals expertise thereby developing a holistic approach scanning across the entire value chain to provide our clients with the best in class consulting services. Our team of expert advisors have assisted a variety of organizations in strategic decision making including one of the world’s largest metals and minerals trader. We service a variety of clients in the Iron & Steel, Non Ferrous Metals and Mining industries ranging from major producers to prominent traders providing advisory services on all the techno economic and commercial aspects of the industry.