The CM Group

CM provides independent advisory services for mining clients, specialising in value-chain analysis across a range of metals, including aluminium, zinc, copper, molybdenum, nickel (NPI), magnesium, manganese and titanium (mineral sands).

CM’s target countries are across South East Asia, particularly China, where the company employs nine full-time equivalents (FTEs) in Beijing and Chengdu.

Price discovery and value chain intelligence for bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium

CM possesses a deep knowledge of the global aluminium value chain, with a strong focus on the emerging third-party global bauxite market.

The company has been engaged in a wide range of global aluminium strategy projects over the past 15 years.

Supporting this work, CM has conducted hundreds of field visits to bauxite mines, alumina refineries, primary aluminium smelters, semi-fabricators, power generating facilities, technology providers, research institutes, government departments and other related entities.

CM has created a one-stop service for the provision of key information and analysis about the global bauxite, alumina and aluminium industries. CM has a range of products and services to meet the various needs of its clients, starting with trade data and quarterly industry updates, right up to comprehensive industry and market reports.

Bauxite price index for the mining sector

CM is developer and publisher of the CBIX value-in-use (ViU) adjusted bauxite price index, developed over years of detailed bauxite price assessment and discovery.

Over the past five years, the company has provided bauxite pricing and market advisory services to leading aluminium companies, as well as new projects and financial institutions worldwide.

Studies of tungsten, tin, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, and other non-ferrous metals

Besides aluminium, CM is also the choice provider of market intelligence for many other non-ferrous metals industries including tungsten, tin, magnesium, zinc, nickel, etc. Over the past two years, CM has travelled extensively to conduct detailed field studies for global base and minor metals industries. Recent projects have taken the company to Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and China.

CM’s databases contain accurate, primary data and intelligence gathered on the ground. The company’s ability to identify and collect high-quality base data forms the foundation for meaningful analyses and the insights they generate.

Metals industry assessments based on proprietary data

CM aims to generate industry-leading insights based on analysis of quality data.

Our approach can be summarised in three key stages:

• Data. The company typically employs both top-down and bottom-up methodologies to gather data and populate proprietary databases
• Analysis. A clear thinking approach to building models and interpreting their output
• Generating insights. Considering all possibilities in the context of CM’s analyses and its understanding of industry behaviour

CM conducts detailed, deep-diving industry assessments, which include supply side expenditure and cost curve analysis, market analysis, price forecasting and operational capability studies. The company also provides demand balances, logistics, technology assessment and government policy review.

Each year, the company conducts numerous targeted field studies in applications such as mines, refineries, smelters, technology institutes and government departments. Its teams are trained to follow an audit trail, forming the foundation of reliable data that provides a springboard for synthesis and analysis.

CM’s extensive fieldwork has resulted in it building its own proprietary databases and models, which are refined with every project undertaken.