

Metals and Mining: Investing Essentials

Tyrone open-pit copper mine in New Mexico. Photo credit: Flickr user Bill Morrow  

Chances are you are reading this article on some sort of computer device. As technologically advanced as that machine may be, it wouldn't exist without the metals and mining industry. In fact, according to the National Mining Association there are 66 individual minerals that are used to build a typical computer. Everything from copper, silver, aluminum, and even gold can be found in the average computer, along with a number of minerals and materials most of us have neither heard of nor can pronounce. Needless to say, the metals and mining industry is vitally important to our technologically advanced society.

What is the metals and mining industry?

The metals and mining industry covers a lot of ground, literally. It is a broad term that refers to the companies mining and processing metals and minerals like copper, aluminum, silver and coal. The companies that take the raw metals ores and minerals out of the ground are also known as the upstream segment of the metals and mining industry. While the midstream and downstream segments take the raw materials produced and converts them into manufacturing feedstocks as well as end products. The largest segment within the metals and mining industry is iron and steel, with the aluminum industry next in line.

How big is the metals and mining industry?

In the U.S. alone more than 14,000 companies mine for coal, metal ores, and other nonmetallic minerals. The industry is estimated to support 2.1 million jobs and contributes $232 billion to GDP. 

Photo credit: Flickr user Michel Filion 

Worldwide, however, the mining industry is even bigger. South Africa, for example, derives 18% of its GDP from mining and holds an estimated $2.5 trillion worth of mineral reserves. South Africa is the biggest producer of platinum and the world's fifth largest coal producer. Russia is another large mining country as it produces 15% of the world's iron ore and is the third largest exporter of coal. It derives 33% of its GDP from mining. Finally, Australia is another country that heavily relies on its mining industry, which produces 10% of its GDP. Australia contributed 30% of the world's bauxite, which is used in aluminum production, and 15% of the world's nickel supply. Because mining is such a big industry around the world investors need to have a global approach to mining investments. 

How does the metals and mining industry work?

The metals and mining industry is very capital intensive, meaning the industry needs to spend a lot of money to construct mines and build production facilities. It also uses a lot of water and chemicals to separate the minerals from rocks and other minerals. In the U.S. alone the mining industry accounts for about 1% of the country's total water consumption.

It takes a very long time to bring a new mine online; in some cases it can take more than a decade from discovery to production. Because of this production growth can be rather lumpy. Further, miners are notorious for spending lots of money to expand capacity during boom times only to have those capacity expansions come online right as the underlying commodity price is crashing, which tends to exacerbate the problem.

That being said, because of the high fixed costs, the metals and mining industry can achieve exceptional operating leverage during boom times. This creates tremendous profitability and strong returns for investors.

What are the drivers of the metals and mining industry?

The metals and mining industry is driven by supply and demand, which in turn drives the commodity prices underlying the industry. Economic growth is vital in supporting the metals and mining industry as most products derived from metals or minerals have long useful lives. If new products are not in demand due to growth then the demand for metals and minerals falls off a cliff. Because of this the metals and mining industry is very cyclical in nature and tends to have extreme boom and bust cycles.

Tianjin Construction site. Photo credit: Flickr user Jakob Montrasio

Currently the biggest driver of economic growth in the world is China. In fact, according to analysts at Wood Mackenzie, China will be the single largest consumer of base metals like aluminum, copper, and zinc by 2017. While demand growth in China has slowed from the double digit growth rates of earlier in the decade, its demand growth is still expected to be about 5%-8% per year. Because of this China is expected to account for 52% of the 117 megaton base metal demand in 2017, up from 46% of the 96 megaton market from 2013.

China is clearly a big focus within the metals and mining industry. But the overall health of the global economy also will factor into the industry's outlook. If the global growth outlook weakens it will have a significant impact on the metals and mining industry. Demand for metals doesn't just weaken during recessionary periods, it can dry up altogether. But if global growth exceeds expectations it will be a real boom for the metals and mining industry. Moreover, thanks to its fixed costs the industry will generate large profits for investors during those boom times. 




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