Global tin premiums in the week to Tuesday October 6 were unchanged, supported by a persistent contango across the London Metal Exchange benchmark cash/three-month spread for tin, while a steady uptick in Chinese buying interest saw European sellers take a closer look at arbitrage opportunities against a static domestic market.China's buying activity attracts European sellersCash/3-month spread ho...Read More
The three-month price of copper on the London Metal Exchange was higher at the close of trading on Wednesday October 7, up by just over 2% during the afternoon trading session, while doubts over an economic recovery package in the United States have put little pressure on a broadly positive LME base metals complex.Copper's outright price on the LME closed at $6,679 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 7 that are worth another look.Brazilian vehicle production fell by 11% in September 2020 compared with the corresponding month a year before, with producers increasing supply from April lows at a slow pace in order to prevent inventories from rising...Read More
Fastmarkets opened a consultation on September 4, 2020, inviting feedback on its non-ferrous methodology in line with our annual methodology review process. The consultation sought to ensure that our methodology continues to reflect the physical market in base metals, minor metals, ores and alloys. This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication fre...Read More
Brazilian aluminium producer Companhia Brasileira de Alum?-nio (CBA) will continue to seek "green funding" alternatives after securing 500 million Reais ($90 million) this year to develop sustainability projects and offer more low-carbon metal, company executives said on Monday October 5.At the same time, the company was cautious about the recent demand recovery in the domestic market from lows se...Read More
The European high carbon ferro-chrome market was stable over week to Tuesday October 6 with muted market activity and an increased focus on negotiations for long-term contracts covering 2021, sources said.Fastmarkets' ferro-chrome high carbon 6-8.5% C, basis 60-70% Cr, max 1.5% Si, delivered Europe price was assessed at $0.85-0.99 per lb Cr on Tuesday, unmoved from the previous week.The price asse...Read More
China's chrome ore and ferro-chrome markets were stable in the week to Tuesday October 6, with activity limited by the Golden Week public holiday on October 1-8.China's chrome ore and ferro-chrome markets were stable in the week to Tuesday October 6, with activity limited by the Golden Week public holiday on October 1-8.Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates inde...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 7 that are worth another look.Brazilian vehicle production fell by 11% in September 2020 compared with the corresponding month a year before, with producers increasing supply from April lows at a slow pace in order to prevent inventories from rising...Read More
The chromium metal market is facing oversupply after orders from the aerospace sector stalled, resulting in increased competition for business among suppliers, sources told Fastmarkets. Chromium metal in its higher purity is used to create a variety of superalloy components including turbine blades for the aerospace industry, due to its high resistance to corrosion. "Demand [from aerospace] is dow...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 7 that are worth another look.Brazilian vehicle production fell by 11% in September 2020 compared with the corresponding month a year before, with producers increasing supply from April lows at a slow pace in order to prevent inventories from rising...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from deep-sea scrap purchasing due to the weak domestic steel market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7.The country's steelmakers had booked three deep-sea cargoes at the end of last week, putting the HMS 1&2 (80:20) price at $284 per tonne cfr for European material and at $289 per tonne cfr for Baltic Sea-origin scrap.The previous Balt...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday October 7. Key drivers A persistent and seemingly increasing tightness in titanium scrap is propelling scrap and ferro-titanium prices for the fourth and fifth weeks in a row respectively. Ferro-titanium producers say they are worried about securing enough scrap in coming weeks, with volumes falling from traditional sect...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were weaker across the board this morning, Wednesday October 7, while equity markets were mixed. US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powel warned too little stimulus is worse than too much.International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva warns economic "calamity is far from over".US President Donald Trump postpones stimulus talks with Democrats unt...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday October 7 that are worth another look.Brazilian vehicle production fell by 11% in September 2020 compared with the corresponding month a year before, with producers increasing supply from April lows at a slow pace in order to prevent inventories from rising...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Europe increased further week on week on Wednesday October 7, driven by long lead times from domestic mills and a lack of import offers, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, at ?,?497.50 ($585.83) per tonne on Wednesday, up by ?,?1.04 per tonne from ?,?496.46 per tonne on Oc...Read More
Following an extended consultation period, Fastmarkets is to discontinue four Argentinian steel price assessments from Friday October 9, following a long period of low liquidity and an inactive spot market.The prices to be discontinued are as follows:MB-STE -0003 Steel hot-rolled coil monthly assessment domestic, exw Argentina, $/tonneMB-STE -0001 Steel cold-rolled coil monthly assessment domestic...Read More
Hollow steel sections prices in Europe moved up further this week while mills continue to pass on higher feedstock costs, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?590-620 per tonne ($695-730) on Wednesday, up from ?,?580-590 per tonne one week previous.The price of hot-rolled coil, t...Read More
The low end of the steel H-beam price ranges in Europe moved up this week on positive producer sentiment after recent price increase announcements, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?540-570 per tonne ($636-671) on Wednesday, narrowing on the low end from ?,?530-570 per tonne one wee...Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Europe were largely rangebound in the week to Wednesday October 7, with market participants saying they believe prices have reached a top in both the north and south of the region.Northern Europe Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?470-480 ($553-565) per tonne on Wednesday, widening d...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from deep-sea scrap purchasing due to the weak domestic steel market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7.The country's steelmakers had booked three deep-sea cargoes at the end of last week, putting the HMS 1&2 (80:20) price at $284 per tonne cfr for European material and at $289 per tonne cfr for Baltic Sea-origin scrap.The previous Balt...Read More