The median market value for the largest metals and mining companies slipped by 6.0% through September, declining for a fourth consecutive month. Although a majority of the companies analyzed by S&P Global Market Intelligence saw their market values fall during the month-long period, median market capitalizations across the 25 largest companies were 23.0% above the year-ago period.
The cumulative market capitalization of the top 25 companies totaled $1.01 trillion at the end of September, slipping from $1.17 trillion a month prior. Market Intelligence analysts determined each company's ranking after converting values into U.S. dollars. Market capitalization percent changes were calculated using reported currencies.
Glencore PLC, Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) and Shaanxi Coal Industry Co. Ltd. were the only companies among the 25 top-valued miners to record increases in market value between the end of August and the end of September, with Saudi Arabian Mining Company seeing the biggest monthly percent jump at 15.1%.
About one-third of the total market value among the companies analyzed continued to be held by the top three: BHP Group, Rio Tinto Group and Vale SA. The trio of top-valued producers recorded a monthly decrease in market value through September, with Vale dipping the most in percentage terms by 22.7% to $70.83 billion.
Iron ore slump
Several iron ore producers recorded monthly losses in market value. Among the top 25 companies, Perth-based iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.'s market value witnessed the largest decline in terms of percentage through September, declining 28.8%.
China has been curtailing steel production to cool prices and limit pollution. This shift, combined with the debt default by the country's leading property developer, has dampened iron ore prices. Major iron ore producers have been riding a period of volatility.
"Obviously, iron ore prices have moderated from the record highs," Fortescue Metals Group CEO Elizabeth Gaines said during an Aug. 30 earnings call, citing cutbacks on steel production in China, the pandemic and weather disruptions.
The period of weaker steel production could persist through the end of 2021, according to Market Intelligence research.
"Weaker Chinese demand is expected in the December quarter, prompting the highest annual price forecast downgrade of 7.5% among all commodities covered," Market Intelligence researcher Aude Marjolin stated in an Oct. 8 report on industrial metals. "And as the tightness in the seaborne iron ore market dissipates, prices have been revised down through to 2025 by an average of 3.5% annually."
Facing mounting pressure to take action on climate change, several of the largest metals and mining companies openly committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from direct operations and energy consumption by 2050, according to a joint statement issued Oct. 5.
As part of its effort to incorporate clean energy sources into its portfolio, Fortescue Metals Group announced Oct. 5 a goal of slashing emissions, especially from its crude steel manufacturing segment, by 2040. The miner also aims to produce 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. On Oct. 7, Fortescue Metals Group also purchased a 60% stake in the renewable energy company HyET Group.
BHP's iron ore segment brought in $34.48 billion in revenue during fiscal 2021, representing 57% of the miner's total annual revenue. But the diversified mining company has announced plans to invest more in the metals central to a low-carbon future too.
"The increased focus and awareness reinforce our conviction that the mega-trends of decarbonization, electrification, population growth and higher living standards will drive strong demand for many of the commodities we produce," BHP CEO Mike Henry said during an Aug. 17 earnings call.
On Oct. 4, BHP established a memorandum of understanding with Toyota Tsusho Corp. and battery producer Prime Planet Energy & Solutions Inc. BHP will supply nickel sulfate from its Nickel West mine in Australia for use in the automaker's electric vehicle batteries.
"[W]e are taking the next step in creating a more sustainable, transparent industry and one that is working collectively to lift standards and reduce emissions," BHP Chief Commercial Officer Vandita Pant said in a statement.
The mining major also said Oct. 7 that it executed the company's first carbon-neutral transaction. The sale involved copper deliveries from BHP's mines in Chile to U.S.-based Southwire Co.'s processing facilities in Georgia and was traced through blockchain-based technology.
Cooling down
The summer of hot commodity prices in the mining sector has started to slow, but prices and demand for several metals will remain high into 2022, according to a Sept. 13 outlook published by Moody's Investors Service.
"Business conditions will remain strong through late 2022, and prices will exceed historical levels for most metals and mining commodities but will not improve," Moody's Senior Vice President Barbara Mattos, wrote in a statement. "We expect [the] industry's EBITDA to increase by about 8% through mid-2022 based on economic recovery supporting demand for base metals, iron ore, steel and coal."