In 2014, the analytical forecast of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company expects global copper market surplus, what is largely influenced by the increase in production capacity of the most significant producers of the red metal. In 2013 and 2012 the level of consumption was significantly higher than the level of production of copper deficit was in this period about 282 thousand tons. The global nickel market and lead in 2013 also observed deficit of 69 000 tonnes and 30 000 tonnes respectively.

The accounting data of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company marked increase in demand for non-ferrous metals and high costs due to the resulting deficit. During the period from January to April 2014 Copper, lead and zinc dropped in value compared to the first quarter last year. In particular, the average price of copper fell by 11% to a mark of 7.401 thousand USD per ton for the quarter of the year, the price of lead fell by 8.5% to a level of 2,106 thousand USD per ton, while the price per tonne of zinc went down to 0, 5% to tysyach 2.29 USD. Considering the 4th quarter of last year, we note a decrease in the average cost of copper and lead by 1.6% and 0.4%, and an increase of 6.3% zinc quotations. In general, according to data provided by Rosstat, the Russian edition of copper increased by 0.8%.

From the management team UMMC to the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Russia were sent a proposal for the creation of the enterprise, based on the processing of tellurium and selenium, obtained from the slurry after electrolysis. As part of the planned project the central company of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company «Uralelectromed» reorganize sludge production during electrolysis shop. Now the materials obtained in this way, are realized in the foreign market. According to the chief technologist «Uralelectromed» Sergei Mastyugin, copper-electrolyte slurry is the most sought-after raw materials, yields tellurium and selenium, which are widely used in the manufacture of special glass, military and medical industries in electronics. Andrew Kozintsev, director general of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, says that his company is ready to work together with investors on a new project. However, «Uralelectromed» the process of updating the equipment in the shop hot-dip galvanizing.