Metals Industry: How to reset and restart with technology for a resilient future February | 2021 Two key elements in the Metals industry have undergone dramatic change due to COVID-19: Capacity and cost. Metal and mining operations from the US to Peru and from Canada to Australia have been shutting down because of social distancing norms and unpredictable lockdowns. Simultaneously, with the Manufacturing and Construction and Engineering sectors badly hit by the pandemic, demand for metals is shrinking. Amidst this, there are fears that global trade wars will send a massive tremor through the industry. Dollar-priced metals would dent demand from China, a leading consumer of metals. The drastic 20% fall in copper prices since its peak in June 2018 is an indicator of the difficult times that lie aheadi. And copper is just the tip of the iceberg. Iron, manganese, nickel, steel, and aluminum that are inputs for wind turbines, batteries, smart phones, home appliances, automobiles, etc., have been badly affected. As the metals industry stalls, it must look for ways to guide itself into a more predictable and resilient future.