Prices for seaborne iron ore concentrate and pellets weakened further last week in the absence of any improvement in demand from China.Concentrate The weekly Fastmarkets MB 66% Fe Iron Ore Concentrate Index stood at $97.63 per tonne cfr China last Friday March 22, down by $2.92 per tonne from a week earlier.In comparison, the daily Fastmarkets MB 65% Fe Iron Ore Index averaged $96.64 per tonne cfr...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Monday March 25, though but export offers edged up amid a positive outlook for demand in the next couple of months. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,840-3,880 yuan ($572-578) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,840-3,870 yuan per tonne, unchangedWeakening futures led to a slowdown in procurement rates in the spot rebar market.But sellers...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices were largely steady on Monday March 25 amid sparse trading due to stagnant demand in both the domestic and export markets.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,850-3,870 yuan ($573-576) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,800-3,820 yuan per tonne, widening upward 10 yuan per tonneThin trading kept domestic prices stable during the day.While products sold at...Read More
The London Metal Exchange three-month base metals prices ran into follow-through selling on the morning of Monday March 25 following the weak economic data points released at the end of last week.Flash manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data from the United States and Eurozone were disappointingly soft and underscored weakening global economic growth. The three-month nickel price was t...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in London and Shanghai on Friday March 22. China Key drivers The Chinese grade 553 silicon export price was steady week on week at $1,560-1,620 per tonne on March 22. Chinese traders refused aggressive bids from overseas buyers, heard below $1,500 per tonne, citing prices below $1,560 per tonne as far below than their cost line. Steady domestic demand...Read More
The Chinese antimony price continued to trend down for the fourth consecutive week amid persistently weak demand and abundant supply in the latest assessment period ended Wednesday March 20. Fastmarkets' price assessment for MMTA standard-grade II antimony, delivered duty-paid in China, fell 1.6% week on week to 45,000-46,000 yuan ($6,723-6,872) per tonne on Wednesday March 20, from 46,000-46,500...Read More
The Chinese ferro-silicon price was stable in the past week in line with fundamentals, while the downturn in the European price persisted against weak spot demand. China supported on lower production Europe drops to 2016 low with more weakness expected US market holds, weakness may loom ahead Chinese ferro-silicon prices have been steady in the past week in line with demand from steel...Read More
Long-term contract and import prices for ferro-chrome rose again in China in the week ended Friday March 22 on higher tenders from stainless steel mills and load shedding by South Africa electricity company Eskom. April tenders push up long-term contract prices in ChinaCharge chrome import prices rise on protracted power constraintsAlloy prices rise in South KoreaEuropean alloy prices flatline de...Read More
China's leading stainless steel mills announced increases in their April tender prices for high-carbon ferro-chrome by 300 yuan ($45) per tonne month on month on Friday March 22.The rises will be imposed by Taiyuan Iron & Steel (Tisco), Tsingshan Group and Baosteel, Fastmarkets heard.After this adjustment, Tisco's April tender price for high-carbon ferro-chrome will be 6,950 yuan ($1,038) per tonn...Read More
China's copper scrap imports in February dropped by 63% month on month and by half compared with February 2018, according to the latest Chinese customs data released on Monday March 25. China imported 64,622 tonnes of copper scrap in February 2019, a sharp drop of 63.5% from 176,900 tonnes in January. This was attributed to a fall in activity during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday in February...Read More
Sentiment soured – hiccup or turning point? There has been a feel-good factor pervading the base metals so far this year due to US-China trade optimism and Fed dovishness. But after poor economic data again last week, sentiment began to sour. This may prove transitory, however, as the fundamentals of the base metals generally remain tight, and demand should pick up to help highlight this in Q...Read More
Prices back under broad-based pressure on...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue...Read More
Aluminium The initial buying pressure seen in the...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the...Read More
Global growth concerns surge Weaker-than-expected manufacturing...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus dow...Read More
Prices now back in consolidation...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as soon...Read More
Share this articleA 76-kg gold-rich specimen from the Beta Hunt mine in Western Australia. Source: RNC Minerals.RNC Minerals [RNX-TSX; RNKLF-OTCQX], aka Royal Nickel Corp., shares were active Tuesday March 26 after the company announced a $12 million bought deal financing, and a purchase option on a gold processing facility in Australia.RNC said the potential purchase of the Higginsville mill an...Read More
Fresh Ambatovy woes another reminder of HPAL frailties As the LME nickel price slipped below $13,000 per tonne last week in line with the risk-off sentiment that returned to the complex, this market is finding support from its own fundamentals in the form of still-falling stocks and fresh supply disruptions. On the latter point, we heard of a further 9% downward revision to Ambatovy’s annual...Read More
Impressive tin price resilience While most...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issu...Read More
SHFE stock outflows may signal start...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as s...Read More
ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as soon as it’s published.SubscribeRead More