Stuart Burns, co-founder of MetalMiner and an expert in metals trading and sourcing, says that while the base metals market will see volatility and higher prices in the short to medium term, factors such as supply chain bottlenecks and a spike in demand due to post-COVID recovery will not persist in the long term, leading to lower prices. He says reduced demand from China will prevent a run-up in copper prices, while the recent surge in nickel prices will lead to some demand destruction. Burns expects higher aluminum prices this year, mainly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.