Covid-19 briefing

7.2 million

The UK leads “top economies”, with over 7.2 million people tested for Covid-19 per million people

16.7%

South Korea has seen the greatest increase in percentage of positive cases among “top economies”, with 16.7%

PROSPECTING AND EXPLORATION 

Continued travel restrictions will hinder explorers, whilst investor sentiment will impact capital raising in the short-term.

More long-term, rising prices and the need to meet rising future demand for battery commodities and critical minerals will support exploration activity.

MINE DEVELOPMENT 

With commodity prices improving and easing restrictions, capex is on the rise in the near-term, with developments constrained mainly by the ability to source the required workforce and avoid Covid-19 cases on site.

Beyond this, recovery in commodity demand and prices will spur an increase in mine development activity to meet future demand requirements.

EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING 

Miners are increasingly meeting production guidance in the short-term, unless non-Covid-19-related impacts have led to reduced output.

In the long-term, improvements to emergency response plans and investments in worker health, alongside increased investment in technology and automation, are likely. 

MARKETING 

In the short-term, recovery in China and public sector investments have supported rising commodity demand in 2021 for industrial production and infrastructure construction.

In the long-term, with rising demand from construction and renewables sectors, demand growth for commodities will return to pre-Covid-19 expectations.