Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part weaker this morning, Friday October 2, but our focus is on the broader markets because US President Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid-19, which in itself is a major development, but is also going to have ramifications on the run-up to the presidential election on November 3.Pre-market major western equity index futures...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.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...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...Read More
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was expected to be an important year for the rollout of 5G networks, with more operator launches globally and declining prices for smartphones and other 5G devices.While the rollout has been disrupted in the short term, the increase in remote working caused by lockdown measures has underscored the need for greater bandwidth capacity along with fast and reliable...Read More
Umicore will consolidate its production of cobalt-derived chemicals in Europe and the United States, the company said on Wednesday September 30.The Belgian speciality chemicals company will move its cobalt refining capacities from the Olen plant in Belgium to the Kokkola refinery in Finland.The move to "one of the largest cobalt refineries globally" will allow "the business unit to produce at a la...Read More
Europe's monthly alloy steel surcharges for October have surged from September levels on significantly higher nickel costs, Fastmarkets heard on Friday October 2.Fastmarkets' stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm, grade 304, alloy surcharge, domestic, Europe was calculated at ?,?1,456-1,462 ($1,710-1,716) per tonne for October, up by ?,?85-89 per tonne from the September range.The average Lo...Read More
As competition in the global steel markets remains fierce, Fastmarkets provides an update on the new, progressing and closed trade cases from around the world in September 2020.The case list below includes only updates. For other continuing cases this year, see the updates for August, July, June, May, April, March,...Read More
Prices for cargoes of steel scrap imported to Vietnam held largely stable in the week to Friday October 2 following a reduction in volumes offered by Japan. Participants in Taiwan and South Korea have been away from the market for much of the week due to their Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, leaving only Vietnam among major purchasers of Japan scrap, but no new deals were heard closed this week. Off...Read More
Import prices for containerized ferrous scrap in the key Taiwanese market were unchanged in the week to October 2 due to a major holiday in the territory, sources said.Fastmarkets' daily price assessment for containerized cargoes of steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20), US material import, cfr main port Taiwan was $270 per tonne on Friday October 2, unchanged from Thursday and down by $2-5 per tonne from...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 1 that are worth another look.The fast steel market recovery seen in Brazil in the past few months has led the country's steelmaker association, Instituto A??o Brasil, to revise its forecasts for 2020 up significantly from previous expectations set...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange tumbled at the close of trading on Thursday October 1, while the rest of the complex reacted to news that US lawmakers remained at odds over the country's pandemic relief efforts. Copper's outright price on the LME closed at $6,387 per tonne on Thursday afternoon, declining from an intraday high of $6,710 per tonne, while turnover was at it...Read More
Members of Union No2 representing supervisors at the Chilean Escondida copper mine, operated by BHP, voted to strike following unsuccessful labor negotiations with the company, Union No1 said on Wednesday September 30. The latest offer from Escondida's management was rejected by 98.36% of votes from members of Union No2. According to Union No1, the largest union representing workers on the mine, n...Read More
Fastmarkets MB is inviting feedback on its audited non-ferrous price assessments and indices, as part of its annual methodology review, in compliance with IOSCO principles for price reporting agencies (PRAs). The consultation, which is open until October 31, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for the alumina, a...Read More
Polish ferro-silicon producer Huta Laziska is set to produce a volume close to its capacity for 80,000-90,000 tonnes per year of standard-grade ferro-silicon (Si 75%) this year, amid signs of a rise in European spot prices, an industry source has told Fastmarkets.Huta Laziska has made only minor adjustments to its output so far in 2020, due to annual planned maintenance measures that have meant on...Read More
Members of Union No2 representing supervisors at the Chilean Escondida copper mine, operated by BHP, voted to strike following unsuccessful labor negotiations with the company, Union No1 said on Wednesday September 30. The latest offer from Escondida's management was rejected by 98.36% of votes from members of Union No2. According to Union No1, the largest union representing workers on the mine, n...Read More
The refining charge (RC) for blister copper brought into China rose by 1.7% on Wednesday September 30 to its highest since June 2019, due to reported higher availability of domestic units and lackluster buying from smelters. Fastmarkets assessed the copper blister 98-99% RC spot, cif China at $140-160 per tonne on Wednesday, compared with $135-160 per tonne a month earlier. Offers for importe...Read More
Fastmarkets MB is inviting feedback on its audited non-ferrous price assessments and indices, as part of its annual methodology review, in compliance with IOSCO principles for price reporting agencies (PRAs). The consultation, which is open until October 31, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for the alumina, a...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloys forecast highlights:Prices across most ore and alloy markets trended higher in September, buoyed by improving demand from steelmakers with the end of the summer holiday season in Europe and the United States, as well as maintained demand from Chinese steel mills. Tightening of alloy inventories...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 1 that are worth another look.The fast steel market recovery seen in Brazil in the past few months has led the country's steelmaker association, Instituto A??o Brasil, to revise its forecasts for 2020 up significantly from previous expectations set...Read More