The aluminium premium at main Japanese ports (MJP) in the fourth quarter of 2020 was unlikely to rise from its level in the third quarter even though the gradual recovery of demand in the country has improved market sentiment in recent weeks, sources have told Fastmarkets.Last week was part of the summer break for the majority of end-users in Japan, but participants said that the MJP market has be...Read More
Liquidity improved in the UG2 chrome ore market in the week to Friday August 14, with current price levels enticing more buyers to be active in the forwards market, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China was stable at $133 per tonne on Friday, after rising by $1 per tonne the previous week.Trading activity picked up signifi...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices increased over the past week in line with strengthening domestic finished steel prices and imported scrap costs, sources said on Monday August 17.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap, auto bundle scrap, domestic, delivered Turkey was 1,890-2,115 lira ($257-288) per tonne on Monday, up from 1,720-2,045 lira per tonne last week.A number of steel mills ra...Read More
Metal prices were mostly firmer on both the London Metals Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange on Monday August 17, the exception was the SHFE September aluminium contract that was down by 0.3% while the rest of the metals on both exchanges were up by an average of 1.1%. United States/China trade talks over the weekend were postponed. Japan's preliminary gross domestic product fell by 7.8%...Read More
Chinese lithium producer Tianqi has announced that company president Vivian Wu submitted a written letter of resignation on August 12, according to a filing to the Shenzhen stock exchange on Friday August 14.Wu's term of office was scheduled to end in 2023. She cited "personal reasons" for her decision.Tianqi chairman Jiang...Read More
Flat steel prices in the Brazilian domestic market have increased in August because of recovering steel demand and high import prices, with further price rises to be imposed next month, Fastmarkets heard on Monday August 17.Producers have fully applied the previously announced price increases for flat steel products, and market participants believed that steelmakers will succeed in applying a furt...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe were unchanged day on day on Monday August 17, after a gradual increase last week, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was calculated at ?,?419.17 ($496.32) per tonne on Monday August 17, unchanged from August 14.The index was, however, up by ?,?5.00 per tonne week on wee...Read More
Domestic prices for steel hot-rolled coil across Europe increased further over the week to Friday August 14, despite seasonally slow market activity.Buyers told Fastmarkets they expect prices to continue the recovery in September when market activity improves after the summer slowdown.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was calculated a...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 17 that are worth another look.The board of directors of Brazil-based miner Vale has approved a project to expand capacity in the miner's Serra Sul iron ore site, in the country's northern Caraj??s region, by 20 million...Read More
Prices for rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow remained flat over the week to August 17, while sentiment in the market remained bullish on good demand from construction, sources said.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was 35,000 roubles ($480) per tonne on Monday, including 20% VAT, flat with the week before and...Read More
The domestic steel rebar price in Brazil increased for the second consecutive month in August, after steelmakers' attempts to raise it in July were successful, market participants said.Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Brazil was 2,510-2,620 Reais ($463-483) per tonne on Friday August 14, up from 2,410-2,530 Reais per tonne on July 10.As well as r...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 17 that are worth another look.The board of directors of Brazil-based miner Vale has approved a project to expand capacity in the miner's Serra Sul iron ore site, in the country's northern Caraj??s region, by 20 million...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices increased over the past week in line with strengthening domestic finished steel prices and imported scrap costs, sources said on Monday August 17.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap, auto bundle scrap, domestic, delivered Turkey was 1,890-2,115 lira ($257-288) per tonne on Monday, up from 1,720-2,045 lira per tonne last week.A number of steel mills ra...Read More
The board of directors of Brazil-based miner Vale has approve a project to expand capacity in the miner's Serra Sul iron ore site, in the country's northern Caraj??s region, by 20 million tonnes to 120 million tonnes per year. The Serra Sul 120 project will expand the production capacity of Vale's S11D mine and plant, which is the main unit in the Caraj??s region, with start-up expected to the fir...Read More
Exporters of steel slab from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) managed to strengthen their positions further in mid-August by signing several contracts with traditional customers at higher prices.The continuing positive trend in the finished flat steel products sector, both in customers' markets and in the CIS region, as well as the reduced availability of slab, were the main reasons fo...Read More
The domestic steel rebar price in Brazil increased for the second consecutive month in August, after steelmakers' attempts to raise it in July were successful, market participants said.Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic, delivered Brazil was 2,510-2,620 Reais ($463-483) per tonne on Friday August 14, up from 2,410-2,530 Reais per tonne on July 10.As well as r...Read More
China's auto producers scaled back their output in July and sold fewer cars in comparison with a month earlier, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported last week.The country produced 2.20 million vehicles last month, down by 5.3% from June. Its auto sales amounted to 2.11 million units, down by 8.2% month on month, CAAM said.But despite the month-on-month drops, China's a...Read More
The board of directors of Brazil-based miner Vale has approve a project to expand capacity in the miner's Serra Sul iron ore site, in the country's northern Caraj??s region, by 20 million tonnes to 120 million tonnes per year. The Serra Sul 120 project will expand the production capacity of Vale's S11D mine and plant, which is the main unit in the Caraj??s region, with start-up expected to the fir...Read More
Liberty Steel Group, part of the GFG Alliance, is to buy French steel rail business Hayange and the Ascoval steelworks. Liberty Steel Group has committed to providing an initial ?,?65 million ($76.83 million) in new financing for Hayange and Ascoval to enact its industrial plan. Further details of development plans for the sites will be announced in due course, Liberty Steel said on Friday August...Read More
China's crude steel, hot metal and finished steel output hit a record high in July, according to data released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday August 14.July outputCrude steel: 93.36 million tonnes, up by 9.1% from a year earlier, up by 1.9% from JuneHot metal: 78.18 million tonnes, up 8.8% year on year, up by 2% month on month Finished steel: 116.89 million tonnes,...Read More