The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for iron ore, pig iron, direct-reduced iron and other steelmaking raw materials. Latest transaction: iron oreIron oreVale, Global Ore, 170,000 tonnes of 62% Fe Brazilian Blend fines, traded at $85.80 per tonne...Read More
Fastmarkets looks at key Asian ferrous scrap consuming countries Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea, and which exporters increased their shipments to these destinations in 2018. Vietnam increased ferrous scrap imports by 20.7% in January-November 2018 to 5.12 million tonnes, up 878,425 tonnes, or 20.7%, from 4.24 million tonnes in the same period in 2017. Fastmarkets MB's import price asse...Read More
The Europe-Asia ferrous scrap arbitrage could open once again with falling prices in Turkey prompting suppliers to look for alternative markets.Suppliers have increased the quantities of ferrous scrap available to steel mills in Vietnam and Taiwan, causing offers to drop by $5-10 per tonne.Offers for Europe-origin lower-quality heavy melting scrap (HMS) 1&2 came in at $335 per tonne cfr...Read More
Premium hard coking coal was offered lower on Wednesday February 27 while the rest of the seaborne market for the steelmaking raw material remained steady amid a dearth of activity.A cargo of unbranded materials was offered on trading platform Global Coal at $216 per tonne fob Australia during the day, sources told Fastmarkets. This is $2 per tonne lower than an offer of $218 per tonne fob Austral...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices rebounded slightly on Wednesday February 27 with buyers picking up the pace of their procurement. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,750-3,800 yuan ($560-567) per tonne, up 10-20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,750-3,790 yuan per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneAn improvement in weather conditions in eastern China has allowed more construction projects to resta...Read More
Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Wednesday February 27* Copper -$192.16 (-1,288.92 yuan) Aluminium -$342.51 (-2,297.47 yuan) Zinc -$137.31 (-921.02 yuan) Nickel -$251.12 (-1,684.45 yuan) *Fastmarkets calculates the physical arbitrage for import into China daily by using SHFE front-month and LME three-month...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Wednesday February 27:Minor metalsAntimony MB Chinese free market MMTA standard grade II, yuan/tonne: 47,500-48,500 yuan per tonne from 48,500-49,500 yuanBismuth MB free market, $/lb: $3.60-4.00 per lb from $3.70-4.20Cadmium MB free market min 99.99%, cents/lb: 137-146 per lb from 137-145Cobalt MB free...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday February 27 pricing session in Europe.Key drivers - Persistent supply worries involving a major supplier prompted short-covering and is expected to propel prices higher in the weeks to come. Ferro-titanium producers and traders have been getting more buying interest from Europe and the United States. With one producer typically offering at least 350 tonnes per month to...Read More
Following reports of a potential power shortage in one of China's major ferro-alloy production hubs in the second quarter of this year, market participants have downplayed any immediate impact on ferro-alloy prices in the country, saying they intend to adopt a wait-and-see stance in the run up to April.The city of Ulanqab in China's autonomous region of Inner Mongolia is expected to experience a s...Read More
The following Fastmarkets UK non-ferrous scrap and foundry ingot prices changed on Wednesday February 27:Aluminium ingotLM24 pressure diecasting ingot: ?1,380-1,440 per tonne from...Read More
A drop in China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) to 49.2 in February, from 49.5 in January, has set a weaker tone across markets with base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange mostly lower and down by an average of 0.3% in the morning of Thursday February 28. Copper and zinc prices led on the downside with losses of 0.7%, with copper recently quoted at $6,473 per to...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 4 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims was 220,000 versus 216,000 last week. Actual was 225,000. Consensus for first estimate for U.S. fourth quarter real GDP was growth at a 2.4% rate versus growth at...Read More
A drop in China’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) to 49.2 in February, from 49.5 in January, has set a weaker tone across markets with base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange mostly lower and down by an average of 0.3% in the morning of Thursday February 28. Copper and zinc prices led on the downside with losses of 0.7%, with copper recently quoted at $6,473 per to...Read More
Global aluminium premiums were little changed this week, with good support from steady market conditions, but premiums in South Korea moved higher due to low levels of inventory. European traders happy to hold metalSouth Korean premiums move up on tight inventoryImport uptrend and domestic discounts in BrazilUS premiums steady. Contango still supporting European premiumsLondon Metal Exchange price...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday February 26.Please click...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher at the close of trading on Tuesday February 26, with positive trade rhetoric in US-China trade talks lending support to commodity investment, while US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell signaled slower but strong US economic growth. Copper's three-month price continues to hold ground near the $6,500-per-tonne level against a backd...Read More
The process to resume full production at Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil has hit a further setback, after an accident with an iron ore tailings dam at a mine from Vale prompted a round of inspections throughout the country, sources told Fastmarkets. Market participants do not expect the Brazilian refinery to resume normal operations anytime soon. Traders and producers initially expecte...Read More
Chinese ferro-vanadium exporters continued to raise their offer levels last week after prices were bolstered by strength in the country's domestic market, while the European ferro-vanadium market tumbled amid sluggish spot activity. Chinese exporters increase offers following domestic market strength European FeV market softens on weak spot demand European V2O5 flat amid limited trading activity...Read More
In contrast to the clear skies outside, a cloud hung over discussions among Indian scrap traders attending the opening session of the annual conference of the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) earlier this month in Kochi, southern India.Secretary-general Amar Singh praised the superior air quality in the host city, compared with the metropolises of New Delhi and Mumbai. But delegates...Read More