Seaborne coking coal prices remained largely rangebound on Thursday December 19 despite more deals being concluded.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $134.12 per tonne, down $1.55 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $148.13 per tonne, up $0.80 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $122.33 per tonne, unchangedHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $134.9...Read More
What's in store for the steel and scrap markets in 2020? There is a good mix of opportunities and threats in the global ferrous trading environment in 2020, according to five major traders with supply chains out to the far reaches of the world. China's volatile policy changes, blooming markets in South Asia, a global trade war and excess steel supply will continue to have significant sway over the...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices moved up slightly on Thursday December 19 amid rising futures after the release of data pointing to a drop in output. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,810-3,840 yuan ($544-548) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,500-3,540 yuan per tonne, up 10-20 yuan per tonneMajor steel mills produced 3.58 million tonnes of rebar in the week to Thursday,...Read More
Spot market prices for alloy-grade and standard-grade cobalt diverged in the first half of the week. Large spot inquiries continued to materialise for certain brands and shapes of metal, though sales of off-grade units have clouded any optimism in the standard-grade market so far.Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt, standard-grade, in-whs Rotterdam, fell 10 cents on the high and low of the ra...Read More
Two weeks of strikes in protest against government plans to reform pension arrangements have delayed some minor metals deliveries that will now be postponed until 2020."It's very difficult to get material in and out of France and this is practically the last week of the year to ship goods to customers," a European minor metals trader said. "From next week onwards, most manufacturers close or are...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were slightly higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 2 points in pre-opening trade.Today is "Triple Witching Day": last trade day for December equity and index futures and options. Volumes are expected to be higher than average. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the next estimate of third quarter GDP at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus was growth...Read More
The three-month prices of base metals on the London Metal Exchange traded in slim ranges to consolidate mixed at the afternoon kerb on Wednesday December 18.LME base metals three-month prices were seemingly torn between closing up on US-China trade talk optimism now a phase one deal has been agreed between the world's two largest economies, or down, capped by a stronger US dollar index, which was...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday December 18.Please click...Read More
Spot activity was low across zinc markets in Asia, Europe and the United States in the week ended Tuesday December 17 with much of the focus on next year's contractual supply premium discussion. Market focus was drawn away from spot activity and toward next year's contractual supply premium discussions. The International Lead & Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) says both the refined zinc and lead ma...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday December 18 that are worth another look.Brazilian flat steel producers are seeking price increases of around 5-8% in 2020 annual contract talks with automakers, according to several market participants.The United States and China reaching a partial trade agreement elicited a muted response from metals markets this week.Mangane...Read More
Shanghai copper cathode premiums dropped to a six-month low in the week ended Tuesday 17, while in Europe spot interest was muted as market participants eyed lower annual premiums for 2020 and in the Unites States the market remained flat amid poor demand.Shanghai deliverable premium assessments at six-month low EQ premiums trading lower in Shanghai Some sellers start to offer annual premiums in E...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday December 18.Key driversThe price range of alloy has narrowed over the past week, with the low end moving up as sources reported deals done towards the upper end and with previous lows disappearing.Producers and traders are preparing for renewed demand in January in expectation of consumers in the steel sector and other usage areas.T...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday December 18.Key driversThe price range of alloy has narrowed over the past week, with the low end moving up as sources reported deals done towards the upper end and with previous lows disappearing.Producers and traders are preparing for renewed demand in January in expectation of consumers in the steel sector and other usage areas.T...Read More
Indonesian ferrous scrap demand should continue to grow in 2020 despite the new rules imposed by authorities."The new regulations should be smoothed out over the next couple of months and containerized scrap shipments should resume within the first half of the year," Hoffman Iron & Steel chief executive Phil Hoffman told Fastmarkets.He was referring to the new regulations enacted by the Indonesian...Read More
Broader markets are generally weaker this morning, Wednesday December 18, with equities in Asia mainly lower, metals mixed and havens little changed.In Europe, fear that a hard Brexit has not vanished is weighing on sentiment, especially in sterling, while a lack of detail on the United States-China trade deal has made it difficult for markets to see further follow-through buying. Equities in Asia...Read More
Consumers of batteries are seeking more price transparency in the lithium market, Albemarle said, while predicting the market will move to undersupply by the middle of the next decade. Lithium producer Albemarle said part of its customer base is "pressing for more visibility" on pricing and is looking to move away from fixed long-term contract pricing. "Auto original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)...Read More
European producers of heavy steel plate have increased domestic prices further this week, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday December 18.Transaction prices are expected to rise, supported by combination of higher slab costs for re-rollers, some recovery in demand due to re-stocking activity and a positive mood in the EU coil market, sources said.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for&nbs...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil exporters kept their offers high on Wednesday December 18 despite sliding domestic prices amid a limited supply of cheaper goods from other parts of the world in the international market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,870-3,880 yuan ($553-554) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,640 yuan per tonne, narrowed downward by 10 yuan per tonnePrices...Read More
Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil rose over the past week with steelmakers increasing their offers in response to a strengthening domestic market.Sources told Fastmarkets that a stronger Chinese yuan had also encouraged exporters to raise their offers to make up for any shortfall from selling in dollars. The exchange rate was 6.9969 yuan to $1 on Wednesday D...Read More