Understanding metal markets: How precise data is changing purchasing

Whether steel, aluminum, copper or special alloys - metallic materials are indispensable in almost all branches of industry. At the same time, their prices are highly volatile, depending on global trade flows, demand cycles, energy prices and political conditions. Today, access to reliable, structured metal pricing data is a must for purchasing, product development and cost management. The costdata®database offersexactly that: a comprehensive, daily updated basis for the valuation of over 33,000 metals and alloys.

Evaluate metal prices globally and based on volume

A key advantage of the database is the combination of regional market prices, volume-dependent scales and the processing characteristics - i.e. the form in which the material is traded. This allows real market prices to be compared with suppliers' offer conditions and price developments to be documented in a comprehensible manner. In addition to daily updated prices, historical price trends from the last six years are also available - a valuable basis for contract negotiations, indexing or strategic planning.

The database includes common materials such as steel, aluminum, copper and titanium, as well as numerous special alloys for automotive, aviation, medical technology and energy technology. This makes it a universal basis for decision-making for a wide range of industries.

Technical properties and CO₂ data at a glance

In addition to pure price data, the database also provides comprehensive material profiles: Density, chemical composition, mechanical characteristics and CO₂ emission data are integrated - directly linked to the respective material. This makes it possible to select materials not only according to price, but also according to environmental impact and technical requirements. This opens up new perspectives, particularly in the context of sustainability management or design-to-cost initiatives - for example in the targeted selection of CO₂-reduced materials in the supply chain.

This results in additional added value for research and development departments: the structured presentation of properties supports material substitution, weight optimization and innovation projects.

Variety of applications from procurement to sustainability

The fields of application for Metal Pricing Data range fromday-to-day purchasing to strategic procurement optimization and product cost analyses. By combining it with product pricing data, benchmarking functions and futures price data, raw material risks can be hedged, budget plans can be saved and material decisions can be justified on the basis of facts. The data also helps to validate target prices or identify alternative supply markets when comparing competitors.

Companies that want to improve their carbon footprint also benefit from the option of recording emissions data for each alloy and integrating it into their material strategy - for example as part of life cycle assessments or ESG reports.

Conclusion: Understanding metal prices, shaping material strategy

Metal Pricing Data from costdata® combines up-to-date market data with in-depth material information - for greater transparency in purchasing, development and sustainability. Anyone who wants to manage their material costs, CO₂ impact and security of supply in a sustainable way will find a reliable database for better decisions here.

➡️ Request a demo now and compare globally with reliable metal data.

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