A summary of W Resources third-quarter results at its La Parilla, tungsten and tin project in the Extremadura region of Spain, according to a quarterly production report released on Wednesday October 21.In brief: Tungsten and tin concentrate production totaled 77.6 tonnes during the quarter, down by 13% on a like-for-like basis and up by 104% on a pro-rata basis (third-quarter 2020 production was...Read More
A climbing London Metal Exchange tin price and continued contango were at odds with dim physical demand in the United States and Europe in the week to Tuesday October 20. US tin demand continued to be weak but higher freight costs capped the slide in the delivered price. European trading activity was absent this week. There were few imports to China, keeping premiums stagnant. Tin premiu...Read More
Premiums for lead in the United States inched up on Tuesday October 20 on returning demand from the automotive sector, which is adding to seasonal stockpiling to prepare for battery replacements. US lead premiums rise on automotive battery demand. European zinc premiums firm with buying seen from diecasters and galvanizers. Shanghai zinc markets were flat on worsening import arbitrage. U...Read More
London copper futures broke above $7,000 per tonne for the first time since early 2018 on Wednesday October 21, with the wire-making metal's green credentials being touted as bullish for future demand at the virtual LME Week forum.The London Metal Exchange's three-month copper contract traded at a high of $7,027 per tonne in afternoon trading on Wednesday October 21, its highest level since J...Read More
Spot copper cathode premiums increased in the United States and East Asia in the week to Tuesday October 20, with additional rates being paid for prompt material and specific brands, while annual contract negotiations are under way, with producers rolling over offers into Europe for next year.Producers offer rollovers into Europe for 2021 supply Extra premiums on top brands for Asia buyers US cons...Read More
Wire rod prices in the United States have inched slightly higher month on month due to increasing demand while imported wire rod prices again remained flat.Fastmarkets' monthly price assessment for steel wire rod (low carbon) industrial quality, fob mill US rose by 0.8% to $31.25-32.25 per hundredweight ($625-645 per short ton) on Tuesday October 20 from $31-32 per cwt previously.Fastmarkets' pric...Read More
ArcelorMittal Europe has increased the price of hot-rolled coil (HRC) in long-term contracts with steel distributors and service centers in the north of the EU, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 21.The new offer price was ?,?550 ($649) per tonne ex-works, up by roughly ?,?80 per tonne compared with previous contracts, according to market participants' estimates.Market sources also said...Read More
European buyers expected steelmakers to announce domestic price increases because they have good order books at a time of tight supply, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 21.Prices have either been stable or have moved slightly upward over the past week with buyers taking a watchful stance, according to market participants."The market is a bit quiet at the moment, because many ar...Read More
The price of hollow steel sections in Europe increased sharply this week while mills continue to push for and achieve higher prices, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 21.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?630-650 ($744-767)per tonne on Wednesday, up from?,?600-630 per tonne one week previous. "Demand is okay, the...Read More
Flat steel sales from Brazilian distributors increased by 39% year-on-year in September 2020, amid a scarcity of steel in the local market and a lack of competition from imported material.Flat steel sales reached 403,100 tonnes in the month, up from 290,000 tonnes in September 2019. Volumes were also up by 7.80% from the 373,800 tonnes shipped in August, according to figures released by national f...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued their silence in the deep-sea scrap market for a third day this week, with participants now split on the direction prices will take, sources said on Wednesday October 21.After a third day without any new bookings, sources began to speculate on the direction prices might go.Some told Fastmarkets they were expecting prices to move up, despite the mil...Read More
Iron ore futures gained again on Wednesday October 21, following an uptrend in steel futures amid a drop in steel inventories, with the seaborne market remaining stable on limited trading activity, sources said. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $120.49 per tonne, up $0.88 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $120.64 per tonne, up $0.59 per tonne58% Fe fi...Read More
The premium hard coking coal price fob Australia dipped on Wednesday October 21 due to a lack of demand for material from the country, according to market participants. Fastmarkets indices Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $113.74 per tonne, down $0.24 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $126.78 per tonne, unchanged Hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $105.02 per tonne, unchanged Hard coki...Read More
China has approved a 13th batch of ferrous scrap for import this year, involving 1,340 tonnes, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection's Solid Waste & Chemical Management Center said on Monday October 19.This takes the total of approved scrap imports so far this year to...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil exporters raised their prices on Wednesday October 21 amid domestic gains and a strengthening dollar.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,890-3,910 yuan ($582-585) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneSeveral Shanghai-based traders said they managed to secure more orders during the day than on Tuesday amid rising prices, with rising futures improving sentiment.One of them said tha...Read More
London Metal Exchange three-month base metals prices were trading up on the previous day's close during the morning session on Wednesday October 21, boosted by hopes of an imminent US fiscal stimulus package and increased government-sanctioned Chinese infrastructure spending.Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate remain in a stalemate over a financial bailout plan in the lead-up to the preside...Read More
Half of the base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange have in recent days risen to multi-month highs, with copper reaching levels not seen since June 2018, and all of the metals are pushing higher this morning, Wednesday October 21. Some strike action in copper in Chile has added fuel to copper's rally High expectations for a further stimulus ahead of the US presidential election has boosted...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 October 21.Key drivers The ferro-titanium spot price range moved up by 10 cents per kg over the week, with persistent tightness in scrap supply from a slump in the aerospace sector propelling prices upward. Market participants expect the alloy market rally to extend into November and potentially further while steelmakers look to sec...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Read More