The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This week Fastmarkets' analysts and price reporters shared their views and recent findings in a webinar revealing some distinct fundamental tensions for steel, refining alloys and, of course, steelmaking raw materials such as iron ore.While the outlook for chrome and manganese ores and alloys is balanced, as far as market pa...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.A 6% decline in the daily average 62% Fe iron ore fines benchmark last week contributed to the lowest quarterly price rise for the first quarter in five years, in spite of clear evidence of supply-side constraints. Although there were clear demand-related obstacles to iron ore suppliers raking in more typical, seasonal price...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Having first hit Asia during early 2020, the Covid-19 viral outbreak is now having an even bigger impact on European countries and the US. Widespread lockdown measures have been put in place on people and industry, and economic activity has slowed markedly.For now, stainless steel markets in Europe and the US are yet to show...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for their latest price moves.Read More
Domestic prices for cold-rolled coil in Europe have dropped due to poor demand and lower import offers, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday April 29.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel CRC, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?530-540 ($574-585) per tonne on April 29, down by ?,?10-20 per tonne from ?,?540-560 per tonne.The assessment was based on a few deals and "workable" prices he...Read More
Downstream aluminium product producer Constellium reported a fall in revenue and a net loss during the first quarter this year on a drop in shipments and prices, according to its latest quarterly earnings report. The company recorded revenue of ?,?1.44 billion ($1.57 billion), down 6.4% from ?,?1.54 billion last year and a net loss of ?,?31 million compared to net income of ?,?24 million in the fi...Read More
The three-month copper price on the LME was higher at the close of trading on Wednesday April 29, staying firmly above nearby support levels despite only average turnover, while tin futures showed some weakness over the afternoon. Copper's outright price on the London Metal Exchange closed at $5,273 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, climbing from an intraday low of $5,197 per tonne, while turnover...Read More
The supply and demand balance in both nickel and copper markets is expected at a surplus this year despite lower output due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Brazilian mining company Vale said in its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday April 28. Supply of finished nickel, for example, is forecast to have declined by 12,000-15,000 tonnes in the first quarter because of coronavirus-related closures and...Read More
The import arbitrage window opened for zinc metal into China in the week ended Tuesday April 28 for the first time in over a year, prompting a flurry of activity, while a struggling US auto industry and poor end-user demand in Europe for zinc left premiums flat and caused an influx of material on exchange. Thousands of tonnes of zinc traded this week following the opening of the import arbitrage.&...Read More
Global nickel premiums held steady amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the week to Tuesday April 28, with demand lackluster in all regions, sources said. Sluggish spot trade keeps premiums in the United States steady China premiums flat on closed arbitrage window, lack of appetite European premiums unchanged despite forward demand optimism US in holding pattern Slow spot trade amid t...Read More
While US hot-rolled coil prices have remained below $23 per hundredweight ($460 per short ton), sources expressed hopes that higher ferrous scrap prices in May - as well as the potential restart of automotive production next month - could provide some relief in the market.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $22.69 per cwt ($453.80 per ton) on Wednesday Apr...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Europe have dropped in the week to Wednesday April 29 due to low demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, ex-works Northern Europe, was ?,?426.25 ($461.99) per tonne on Wednesday, down by ?,?13.75 per tonne day on day from ?,?440.00 per tonne.Wednesday's index was calculated based on deals and workable prices...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Europe have been largely stable over the past week, but downward pressure has been mounting due to poor demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday April 29.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe, was unchanged at ?,?490-500 ($531-542) per tonne on April 29. The assessment was based on offers heard...Read More
United States-based car manufacturer Ford will restart production at various sites in Europe in a phased approach from May 4, the company said on Tuesday April 28.Vehicle and engine production will restart at continental European sites following the implementation of health and safety precautions agreed with trade unions, which will include personal body-temperature checks and the use of facemasks...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in Europe moved downward this week, with demand not yet showing any sign of rebounding, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday April 29.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?580-595 ($629-645) per tonne on Wednesday, down from ?,?585-600 per tonne one week before.Demand in Northern and Southern...Read More
The price for steel H-beams in Europe remained flat on Wednesday April 29, with demand remaining at low levels because of the lockdown measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was unchanged at ?,?535-570 ($580-618) per tonne on Wednesday."Beams and sections have the lowest act...Read More
Fastmarkets will publish its Poland rebar price assessment a day early this week, on Thursday April 30, because of the Labor Day holiday on Friday May 1. In accordance with the Fastmarkets holiday pricing schedule, weekly and monthly EMEA, CIS and Turkey ferrous prices will not be published during UK public holidays and holidays that take place in the country where the price in question is based....Read More
Brazil-based miner Vale has confirmed the official schedule for a resumption of production at its Samarco iron ore pellet joint venture in December 2020, while its wholly owned Timbopeba mine was expected to reopen on May 4, chief financial officer Luciano Siani said in a conference call on Wednesday April 29.Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, work at the Samarco site was not significantly affected, h...Read More
Stainless steel scrap prices in the United States dropped this week due to weakening demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the beginning of the seasonal summer slowdown."We are starting to see a slowdown as we head into the summer months, so we have backed off pricing," one major processor said.Most market respondents agreed that demand has fallen off, causing a loosening of the tight supply chain...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from the deep-sea scrap market on Wednesday April 29, holding out for lower prices, sources told Fastmarkets.After about 10 days of silence, on April 27 one Turkish steel mill booked a Baltic Sea cargo at $242 per tonne cfr for 26,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) and $252 per tonne cfr for 6,00 tonnes of bonus scrap, sending the daily scrap in...Read More