Seaborne low-vol PCI prices in both the fob and cfr markets fell following the drop in thermal coal prices. And China's National Development & Reform Commission intervention, plus the news that stranded Australian coal was allowed to clear Chinese customs, have put market participants in a wait-and-see mode.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $608.12 per tonne, unchange...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices continued to fall on Friday October 29 after Hebei and Shandong provinces introduced steelmaking production restrictions to curb air pollution, with further emissions limits expected in the winter-heating season from November 1, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $107.28 per tonne, down $5.37 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao:...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in eastern China increased on Friday October 29 on early gains in the futures market and a pick-up in spot buying activity.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,330-5,340 yuan ($834-836) per tonne, up by 40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan) weekly assessment: 5,300-5,350 yuan per tonne, down by 250-270 yuan per tonne The most-traded January HRC futures contract on the Sh...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were broadly down on the morning of Friday October 29 following a brief rally on Thursday, however all but aluminium look set for a positive monthly close.Aluminum's three-month price was at $2,720 per tonne at 9am on Friday, down by 1% from $2,746.50 per tonne at Thursday's 5pm close. The light metal is the only LME base metal on course for a negati...Read More
Eastern China's rebar prices increased on Friday October 29 on rising end-user demand, narrowing this week's cumulative losses in comparison with those experienced last week.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,220-5,250 yuan ($817-822) per tonne, up by 100-120 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing) weekly assessment: 5,150-5,180 yuan per tonne, down by 90 yuan per tonneSpot prices in China's east...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Janie Davies and Fola...Read More
An overview of the aerospace materials markets and the latest price moves.Jessica Long, Zihao Li and...Read More
Fastmarkets has corrected its chromium price, in warehouse Rotterdam, which was incorrectly published on Friday October 29 due to an editing error.The price was also published 13 minutes later than its publication time of 3pm London time.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for MB-CR-0001 chromium alumino-thermic 99% min, in-whs Rotterdam, on Friday has been changed to $10,500-12,000 per tonne aft...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 standard grade,...Read More
The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) 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 hydroxide p...Read More
South Korean steelmakers have purchased steel scrap cargoes at lower prices from the United States and Japan in recent days amid weakening market sentiment across Asia, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday October 29.?EUR?South Korea purchases raft of cargoes at lower prices?EUR?Tokyo Steel Tahara mill reduces buy price?EUR?Prices in China stable amid lack of buying interest.South KoreaPrices...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 28 that are worth another look.The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent a notice to Brazil-based miner Vale regarding a possible investigation surrounding the Brumadinho tailings dam disaster in 2019. Brazilian miner Vale will resume activities...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up across the board at the 5pm close of trading on Thursday October 28, continuing to rebound following a recent period of widespread selling."Given the [recent] price action, this Friday's week- and month-end closes should be important to determine whether we see some longer-term length liquidate," Alastair Munro, LME desk analyst at Marex, sai...Read More
Demand and prices for alumina in China were in limbo this week because market participants have become cautious after a steep decline in downstream aluminium prices, Fastmarkets heard on Thursday October 28.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for alumina, metallurgical grade, exw China, was 3,900-4,150 yuan ($610-650) per tonne on Thursday, flat from a week earlier.Domestic demand for alumina in...Read More
Demand and prices for alumina in China were in limbo this week because market participants have become cautious after a steep decline in downstream aluminium prices, Fastmarkets heard on Thursday October 28.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for alumina, metallurgical grade, exw China, was 3,900-4,150 yuan ($610-650) per tonne on Thursday, flat from a week earlier.Domestic demand for alumina in...Read More
Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for its proposal to amend the name and specifications of its UG2 chrome ore price index.This is in response to market feedback following its proposal to make the amendment. Fastmarkets proposes to change the specification for its chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China to include increasing the minimum tonnage and de...Read More
For anyone purely judging manganese ore supply in China by looking at port stocks, he or she could misread the market supply picture due to rising "invisible stocks" in the past one to two months, sources told Fastmarkets. Typically, ore stocks are either stored at ports or held by producers at their warehouses or local storage sites. While port stocks are visible and measurable, the latter can be...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 28 that are worth another look.The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent a notice to Brazil-based miner Vale regarding a possible investigation surrounding the Brumadinho tailings dam disaster in 2019. Brazilian miner Vale will resume activities...Read More
China's cobalt metal prices declined this week in response to weak demand and cautious downstream buyers - diverging from the international trend for higher benchmark prices.Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt 99.8% Co min, ex-works China was 395,000-410,000 yuan ($61,806-64,153) per tonne on Wednesday October 27, down by 2,000 yuan per tonne from 397,000-410,000 yuan per tonne on October 22...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 28 that are worth another look.The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent a notice to Brazil-based miner Vale regarding a possible investigation surrounding the Brumadinho tailings dam disaster in 2019. Brazilian miner Vale will resume activities...Read More