Iron ore prices fell sharply in the second half of November after climbing through October, with prices for higher-grade material pioneering the decline.Fastmarkets MB daily benchmark for 65% Fe fines dropped by 22% by Monday November 26 after peaking on October 29. The 62% Fe iron ore index declined by 16% over the period, as some Chinese steelmakers started to seek larger volumes of cheaper ores...Read More
The steel scrap sector in the United States still depends on exports to Turkey, a member of the Fastmarkets research team said during the ferrous session at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) conference in London.This dependence persists despite the changes in the international markets created by the US' imposition of its Section 232 tariffs on imports of steel products, metals analyst Le...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dipped galvanized coil, pre-painted galvanized iron, steel plate, steel sheet and other flat steel products.Latest transactions: hot-rolled coilHot-rolled coilEast China, domestic,...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products. ...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for steel billet, slab and bloom. Latest transaction: billetBilletChina, billet,...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in London and Shanghai on Friday December 21.Europe ?EUR? The European 553 silicon price was slightly firmer during the last pricing session, rising by 0.6%. Fastmarkets assessed the 553 silicon price at ?,?1,780-1850 ($2,030-2,109) per tonne. The lowest deal concluded was at ?,?1,780 per tonne. ?EUR? Meanwhile, the European 441 silicon price remained stable at ?...Read More
The VIX Index spiked on Monday on increasing equity market volatility.The Nikkei Average plunged 5.0% to 19,156 on Christmas Eve completing a double top pattern. Trader's CornerEquity Indices and related ETFsDaily Seasonal/Technical Equity Trends for December 24th 2018 Green: Increase from previous dayRed: Decrease from previous day CommoditiesDaily Seasonal/Technical Commodities Trends...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Monday December 24.Note that in line with our publication schedule, the weekly base metal premiums table is published...Read More
Lead rose 1% by the close on the London Metal Exchange on Monday December 24, while the rest of the base metals inched lower in a mostly quiet session ahead of the Christmas holidays.Following a 31,150 tonne cancellation on Monday, mostly in Antwerp LME sheds, lead was the best performer up $20 per tonne to close at $1,985 per tonne on Monday. Total lead stocks fell 50 tonnes to 107,575 tonnesDesp...Read More
Fastmarkets MB has amended the date of publication of its monthly ferro-nickel cif China price to Monday December 31 instead of today after it was incorrectly published earlier due to a reporter error.The assessment for cif China ferro-nickel premium with 26-32% nickel content is scheduled to be published every last Monday of each month.The price, which was assessed at a discount of $250-120 per t...Read More
An investigative commission created by Par??'s state legislature Alepa found "very strong evidence of environmental crime" in the region where Alunorte, Norsk Hydro's alumina refinery in the Brazilian northern state, is located.The analysis began after heavy floods in Par??'s city of Barcarena back in February worried nearby communities and prompted them to file a complaint against Alunorte to the...Read More
Cobalt prices continued to slide in the second half of the month as sellers feeling the pressure to destock ahead of the year-end faced buyers reluctant to add to their books in December. Fastmarkets assessed high-grade cobalt prices at $26.25-28 per lb, in-warehouse, on Friday December 21, down from $27-29 per lb at the time of the midweek assessment. Fastmarkets assessed low-grade cob...Read More
Trading activity in the seaborne manganese ore market continued to berelatively active due to the lower offer prices in the week ended on Friday December 21. China's manganese market was mostly stable this week, with prices somewhat rangebound on active trading activity, due to producers' lower offers two weeks prior.Fastmarkets' 37% manganese ore index, fob Port Elizabeth, rose by 6 cents to $5.5...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices have continued to fall over the past week in line with weakening finished steel values in the country's export and domestic markets, sources said on Monday December 24.Fastmarkets MB's weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle (DKP-grade) ferrous scrap was TRY1,480-1,590 ($279-300) per tonne delivered on December 24, down from TRY1,490-1,710 per tonne last week...Read More
The Turkish scrap import market remained quiet at the beginning of the week, with the mills' bids still below offers, sources said on Monday December 24.European origin HMS 1&2 (80:20) has been offered at $290 per tonne cfr to Turkey, while the Baltic Sea suppliers were offering the same material at $295 per tonne.Yet, mills in Turkey were still bidding around $275-280 per tonne cfr for...Read More
The European Union Council of Ministers has approved 2019 duty-free quotas for a range of aluminium imports whose production within the EU is insufficient to meet demand.These quotas will come into force on January 1, 2019, and will remain in place until December 31 of the same year. They include imports of 2,000 tonnes...Read More
Cobalt prices continued to slide in the second half of the month as sellers feeling the pressure to destock ahead of the year-end faced buyers reluctant to add to their books in December. Fastmarkets assessed high-grade cobalt prices at $26.25-28 per lb, in-warehouse, on Friday December 21, down from $27-29 per lb at the time of the midweek assessment. Fastmarkets assessed low-grade cob...Read More
The growth of demand has been the key factor influencing the positive trend in the global steel market in recent years, Fastmarkets research manager Alistair Ramsay said earlier this month at the 22nd Middle East Iron and Steel Conference in Dubai.Over the past decade global steel consumption increased by total of 35%, growing by around 3% annually. In 2018, global consumption is expected to rise...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices were little changed on Monday December 24 in sparse trading, with participants bearish on the outlook for prices over the coming days, source told Fastmarkets MB.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,790-3,810 yuan ($549-552) per tonne, down 10-20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,690-3,700 yuan per tonne, unchangedPrices in Shanghai dipped following...Read More
China's ferrous futures started the trading week on Monday December 24 on a positive note, with the coking coal and coke contracts leading prices higher.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,454 yuan ($500) per tonne, up 6 yuan per tonne May hot rolled coil: 3,429 yuan per tonne, up 3 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchange May iron ore: 489 yuan per tonn...Read More