Accounting for approximately 25% of global production, the world's ten largest steel companies produced roughly 340 million metric tonnes of crude steel in 2010.

In total, the steel giants, which represent seven different countries, collect hundreds of billions of dollars in gross annual revenues and employ well in excess of 500,000 individuals.

Learn who the biggest steel producers are here.
Read More...

Steel is arguably the most important structural material ever invented.

By discovering how to efficiently use oxygen to de-carburize iron, Henry Bessemer is often seen as the father of modern steelmaking. But the history of steelmaking has many important contributors and critical developments.

Stretching back 4000 years and including some of the wealthiest individuals ever, the history is itself a story of mankind's efforts to better understand metals and how to make them work for our own ambitions.

To read a brief history of steel, click here. Read More...

China recently released its first batch of rare earth element (REE) export quotas for 2012. Expected to total just over 30,000 metric tons this year (including provisional and second batch quotas), the amount of export quotas available has been relatively stable since large cuts drove up REE prices in 2009 and 2010.

Despite concerns about access to the metals, due to Chinese restrictions on their production and export, only a fraction of China's rare earth export quotas were used in 2011. China currently accounts for about 95% of global REE production. Rare earth metals are used to make high strength magnets and are critical to many alternative energy applications.

To read more about REE applications, as well as the history, production and properties of the metals, click here. Read More...

One of the highlights of 2011 for metals investors was the IPO for Glencore International AG, one of the world's largest metal trading companies.

A major player in the trading of copper and zinc for decades, Glencore is also invested in the production of aluminum, cobalt, lead and iron ore, as well as other major commodities, including crude oil, coal, grains and oilseeds. It is not surprising, then, that some refer to Glencore as the 'Goldman Sachs of the commodities world'.

Glencore's IPO was the London Stock Exchange's largest ever and the company was the first in 25 years to enter the FTSE 100 Index upon admission.

Some of Glencore's more valuable assets include a 34.4% stake in Xtrata Plc, a major copper, nickel, zinc and ferrochrome producer, 8.75% ownership of United Company Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer and 75% ownership of Katanga Mining, a major cobalt producer in Africa.

To learn more about Glencore International AG, read the company profile here.