Scrap prices in the major markets worldwide continued to fall during the working week from Monday January 7 to Friday January 11, following the downturn in the Turkish market.But demand was strengthening due to low stock levels in both Turkey and Asia, despite the weakness of the markets for finished steel - especially in Turkey.Turkey importsThe Turkish steel mills resumed their deep-sea scrap pu...Read More
The effect of a sharp uptick in nickel values on alloy steel scrap prices this week was muted by ongoing poor demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday January 11.Being a key component of stainless steel, nickel prices exert considerable influence over the price of alloy steel scrap, with price movements in the former usually being reflected in a the latter in the same week. On Friday, the t...Read More
Brazilian slab export prices fell this week because of weak buying activity in the main slab consumer markets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for Brazilian slab exports dropped to $415-465 per tonne fob on Friday January 11, down from $430-470 per tonne fob a week before.Mills have agreed to lower offers in order to book volumes for March shipment, but...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Friday January 11 amid inactivity, though an improved outlook for the export market among mills has led to higher numbers in that segment.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,710-3,750 yuan ($546-552) per tonne, down 30-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,640-3,680 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneLower temperatures in northern China and rain...Read More
Aluminium foundry alloy premiums in Europe and the United States were unchanged this month due to continued sluggish demand, while annual premiums in Asia climbed on uncertainty surrounding sanctions against UC Rusal. European premiums flat on sluggish January demandFoundry premiums in Europe were unchanged month on month with weak demand in the area causing liquidity to dry up.Fastmarkets assesse...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Latin America's export prices for cold-rolled coil (CRC) fell in the week ended Friday January 11, while the prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) and plate remained unchanged with the export market muted on low demand and trade issues.Fastmarkets' weekly assessment of the price of CRC exports from Latin America reached $590-600 per tonne fob on January 11, down from $625-630 per tonne fob in the previ...Read More
The pig iron market in the United States was confused by heavy drop in the scrap market in the week ended Friday January 11, and both buyers and sellers preferred to wait until the situation in the market became clearer.Fastmarkets' import price assessment for pig iron in the US fell to $350-360 per tonne cfr on Friday, down from $365 per tonne cfr a week earlier.Offers from some pig iron supplier...Read More
Manganese ore prices have started 2019 by continuing a slide that began last December, weighed down by weak downstream demand in China, where market participants are reluctant to buy amid price risk fears.Manganese ore prices have started 2019 by continuing a slide that began in December, weighed down by weak downstream demand in China, where market participants are reluctant to buy because of fea...Read More
Base metals closed mostly higher on the London Metal Exchange on Friday January 11 on improving risk appetite, with nickel climbing above $11,400 per tonne.The three-month nickel price remains in an uptrend - it gained 2% today and is up by more than 8% from its lowest in 2018 at $10,530 per tonne on December 31 - while zinc climbed by 1.2% to close just below $2,500 per tonne, basis three months....Read More
Lead stocks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) surged by almost 80% week-on-week on Friday January 11.Stocks for other base metals, except copper, posted only modest increases and decreases over the week. Deliverable lead stocks at SHFE-approved warehouses have risen by 12,709 tonnes, or 76.6%, since January 4 to 29,308 tonnes. This followed an increase of just 773 tonnes one w...Read More
Iron ore prices were largely rangebound on Friday January 11 with further pressure applied to the port market due to a stronger exchange rate for China's yuan against the US dollar.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $73.45 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.09 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $73.59 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.09 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $75.04 per ton...Read More
Scrap prices in the major markets worldwide continued to fall during the working week from Monday January 7 to Friday January 11, following the downturn in the Turkish market.But demand was strengthening due to low stock levels in both Turkey and Asia, despite the weakness of the markets for finished steel - especially in Turkey.Turkey importsThe Turkish steel mills resumed their deep-sea scrap pu...Read More
Brazilian slab export prices fell this week because of weak buying activity in the main slab consumer markets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for Brazilian slab exports dropped to $415-465 per tonne fob on Friday January 11, down from $430-470 per tonne fob a week before.Mills have agreed to lower offers in order to book volumes for March shipment, but...Read More
The London Metal Exchange has opened a consultation period on a host of proposed rulebook changes and regulatory amendments, seeking feedback from its members and other interested parties.The consultation period will last until February 11, 2019, according to a note to members released on Friday January 11.The process will consider five key amendments that relate to the exchange's preparation for...Read More
Base metals closed mostly higher on the London Metal Exchange on Friday January 11 on improving risk appetite, with nickel climbing above $11,400 per tonne.The three-month nickel price remains in an uptrend - it gained 2% today and is up by more than 8% from its lowest in 2018 at $10,530 per tonne on December 31 - while zinc climbed by 1.2% to close just below $2,500 per tonne, basis three months....Read More
Comex copper prices nudged higher on Friday morning in the US while the market awaits developments in the US-China trade talks aimed at resolving the trade war between the two countries.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange recovered by 0.75 cents to trade recently at $2.6450 per lb."We are constructive on copper for the first quarter...Read More
The domestic alumina market in China has shown no immediate effects from the country's official warning of an overcapacity for the material, issued at the end of last year.Fastmarkets assessed the free market price of metallurgical-grade alumina, delivered duty paid, at 2,800-2,900 yuan ($408-423) per tonne on Thursday January 10, unchanged from a week before but still its lowest level since July...Read More
Lead stocks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) surged by almost 80% week-on-week on Friday January 11.Stocks for other base metals, except copper, posted only modest increases and decreases over the week. Deliverable lead stocks at SHFE-approved warehouses have risen by 12,709 tonnes, or 76.6%, since January 4 to 29,308 tonnes. This followed an increase of just 773 tonnes one w...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher during morning trading on Friday January 11, with nickel's three-month price leading gains amid a broadly positive market sentiment.Continuing its recent uptrend, nickel's three-month futures price is up more than 2% over the morning, reaching an intraday high of $11,490 per tonne while strong demand, particularly from the stainles...Read More