China's semi-finished steel and pig iron imports surged year on year in September, with quantities growing by up to eight times as much as the same period a year earlier.These were attributed to steady demand from steelmakers and high domestic prices in China.Vietnam was the biggest supplier of billet to...Read More
Zinc premiums in the United States and Taiwan rose over the week to Tuesday November 3 while in Northern Europe spot zinc premiums dropped amid a dampened outlook and new regional lockdowns, sources said.US, EU zinc premiums diverge with appetite for units stronger in the former and weaker in the latter regionTaiwanese zinc premiums hit multi-month high amid demand uptick while China zinc premiums...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil market experienced active trading on Wednesday November 4 amid price gains.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,980-4,020 yuan ($595-601) per tonne, widening upward by 30 yuan per tonneA source at a mill in eastern China said that demand had been rebounding recently amid continual price gains, with downstream buyers rushing to restock on fears of more increases.He said that...Read More
Prices for base metals dropped in morning trading on Wednesday November 4, after Donald Trump said he plans to contest the result of the incomplete and already uncertain presidential election in the United States.Aluminium, nickel and copper had all dropped by 1% or more as of 8:20 UK time with votes still being counted in a US presidential race that looks set to go down to the wire and in which a...Read More
Aluminium premiums in Southern Europe, the United States and Japan rose on Tuesday November 3, while demand outpaced squeezed supply in those regions, overriding the backwardation in London Metal Exchange spreads.Duty-unpaid Rotterdam premium down; Spain, Italy upUS Midwest premium up as Canadian flows slowStronger demand boosts MJP premiumSlower activity pressures Brazilian premiums downSouth Eur...Read More
An overview of the consumers electronics markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday November 4.Key driversThe ferro-titanium spot price in Europe increased over the week amid steady business in a market rally that started on August 19 against persistent demand and tightening feedstock supplies. The top of the current price range is at a level last seen on June 10.Around 85 tonnes of deals were reportedly sold in Eu...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Charlotte Radford,...Read More
The cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed cobalt...Read More
The cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed cobalt...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in China on Wednesday November 4. Key driversChina's domestic gallium price narrowed upward after finding further support from continued firm offers.Several suppliers raised their offers further while some producers held back from offering in anticipation of higher prices in...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in China on Wednesday November 4. Key driversPrice declined following lower offers in response to weak buying appetite.Traders remain cautious about building positions in the face of volatile changes on the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange.The December indium contract...Read More
A summary of stainless steel producer Aperam's results for the third quarter of 2020.In brief Aperam managed to increase shipments for the period driven by flexible multi-product business in Brazil and the demand recovery in Europe after Covid-19-related lockdowns earlier in the year were eased. Sales, however, were still down year-on-year due to weaker prices. The automotive industry, one of the...Read More
Brazilian ferro-alloys producer Ferbasa has reported a fire at its plant in the country that it warned may affect ferro-silicon production for about eight days, the company said on its website on Tuesday November 3.Ferbasa has the capacity to produce around 120,000 tonnes per year of ferro-silicon and sells its product domestically, while exporting alloy to the United States and Europe. The compan...Read More
The European high carbon ferro-chrome markets were largely stable in week to Tuesday November 3 despite concerns about Covid-19 inspiring caution among consumers, sources said.Fastmarkets' ferro-chrome high carbon 6-8.5% C, basis 60-70% Cr, max 1.5% Si, delivered Europe assessment was stable at $0.88-1.03 per lb Cr for a second consecutive week on Tuesday November 3.Likewise, Fastmarkets' assessme...Read More
NASDAQ 100 and S&P 100 Breakouts This Morning ETF Breakouts This MorningMaterials SPDRs moved above $66.97 to an all-time high extending an intermediate uptrend.Semiconductor ETFs SMH and SOXX broke to all-time highsHong Kong iShares moved above $22.96 extending an intermediate uptrend.South Africa iShares moved above $40.56 extending an intermediate uptrend. Pre-opening Comments fo...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday November 3. Please click...Read More
The London Metal Exchange base metals complex closed up by 1.2% from the previous day's kerb on Tuesday November 3, buoyed by bullish expectations arising from the same day's United States presidential election.Conversely, the US dollar index was trading down by 0.64% around 93.40 during the afternoon session, in anticipation of the poll result, providing a significant tailwind for LME three-month...Read More
Chilean copper production was 0.8% lower year on year in September due to lower output from Escondida, the country's copper commission, Cochilco, said on Tuesday November 3. Mined copper content output totaled 479,900 tonnes in September, against 483,800 tonnes a year before, according to Cochilco's data. The country produced 4.26 million tonnes of copper in the January-September period, slightly...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions on Tuesday November 3 in China, Europe and the United States.China The UG2 chrome ore market continued to rally, backed by increased liquidity, with some consumers seeking to acquire material before South Africa's proposed chrome export tax is imposed. Other market participants preferred to sit out of the market until further information about the propos...Read More