Hollow steel sections prices in Europe remained flat this week while the market mulled the implications of reaching the import quota limit, market participants said.Fastmarkets MB's domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe was unchanged week on week at ?,?635-650 ($721-738) per tonne delivered on Wednesday December 12.The hollow sectio...Read More
European prices for mesh-quality wire rod stayed flat across the Northern and Southern parts of the continent on Wednesday December 12, with the EC's import quota now more than 90% filled.Fastmarkets MB's weekly domestic price assessments for mesh-quality wire rod in both Southern and Northern Europe stayed at ?,?540-560 ($613-636) per tonne delivered on Wednesday.The European Commission's import...Read More
The price for rebar produced and delivered in Southern Europe was flat on Wednesday December 12, with no buying ahead of the holidays and while the EC's import quotas run dry.Fastmarkets MB's weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Southern Europe stayed at ?,?530-540 ($602-613) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, with no new business now expected before the New Year and little before the Febr...Read More
Union Iron and Steel plans to produce 400,000 tonnes of rebar in 2019 after activating its new billet welding machine, chief executive officer Boris Van Thiel said at the Fastmarkets MB Middle East Iron and Steel conference in Dubai on Wednesday December 12.A re-roller of billets, Abu Dhabi-based rebar producer Union Iron and Steel has capacity of 350,000 tonnes per year. It produced 300,000 tonne...Read More
The price for rebar produced and delivered in Northern Europe remained stable on Wednesday December 12, with market participants uncertain of the impact of the rapidly filling of import quotas.Fastmarkets MB's weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Northern Europe remained at $540-560 ($613-636) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, al though few deals were reported in the week.Buyers had been...Read More
The European ferro-molybdenum market, which climbed almost 2.5% in trading a week ago, has pared gains since Friday in line with a drop in demand.Suppliers said there is plenty of alloy available if needed amid negligible levels of consumer demand and they have cut their offer prices as a result.The ferro-molybdenum, basis 65%, in-warehouse Rotterdam price has dropped 20 cents to $29.20-29.40 per...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday December 12 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers European suppliers booked several sales in the past week, narrowing the price range to 50 cents.European market sources said there was downward market pressure from Russian suppliers, but those suppliers have reported doing deals around the middle of the current European price range.European market expected to be stabl...Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Wednesday December 12:Minor metalsCobalt MB free market high grade, $/lb: $29.90-31.40 per lb from $30.50-32.00Cobalt MB free market low grade, $/lb: $29.80-31.50 per lb from $30.30-32.00Cobalt MB China domestic, yuan/tonne: 355,000-380,000 yuan per tonne from 360,000-390,000...Read More
The following Fastmarkets noble alloys and ores prices changed on Wednesday December 12:Noble alloysFerro-molybdenum basis 65% min, in-warehouse Rotterdam, $/kg Mo: $29.20-29.40 per kg from $29.40-29.60Tungsten export...Read More
The first mechanized underground chrome production in Turkey has begun as part of a process to modernize all of the mines owned by Eti Krom and should increase the country's share of the global chrome market.Eti Krom is a subsidiary of Yildmadem Holding, Turkey's largest chromium producer. The mechanization is the initial step in a project to add 30% to Turkey's annual chrome ore production capaci...Read More
Brazilian pre-operational miner Sigma Lithium Resources expects the premium for high-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate that goes into battery production to rise in the next few years while demand for electric vehicles (EVs) grows, vice-chairman Ana Cabral told Fastmarkets. "We believe prices for technical grade lithium hydroxide, at 56.5%, will fall further from now on, but premium for 90% con...Read More
Turkish steel producers extended their absence in the deep-sea scrap markets into Wednesday December 12 because of limited demand for finished steel products, sources told Fastmarkets MB.Mills in the country have been refraining from scrap purchases for more than two weeks now - only a single cargo has been booked since November 23.Demand for steel products, especially rebar, has been and remains...Read More
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, sold at $71 per tonne cfr China, laycan December 26-January 4.Beijing Iron Ore Trading Center (Corex), 65,000 tonnes of 65% Fe Karara Standard Magnetite...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices increased moderately on Wednesday December 12 following a pick-up in China's spot steel prices. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $66.73 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.76 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $66 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.76 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $71 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $1.32 per tonne. MB 58% Fe Premium Index: $59.92 pe...Read More
The launch of a high-grade iron ore derivative by the Singapore Exchange last week represents a "leap forward for the [ferrous] industry, particularly those that are exposed to the high-grade product," according to Andrew Glass, head of iron ore trading at Anglo American.SGX launched the world's first high-grade iron ore derivative contract, settled against the daily MB 65% Fe Iron Ore Index publi...Read More
Trading in the seaborne coking coal spot market picked up on Wednesday December 12 after more firm offers and bids emerged. A January-laycan cargo of unbranded materials was transacted at $219 per tonne fob Australia during a day, Fastmarkets has heard.In China, a top Australian brand with late December laycan was offered at $212 per tonne cfr China during the day, market sources said.However, no...Read More
China's ferrous futures fell during morning trading on Wednesday December 12, while sentiment remains largely bearish in both the steel and the coke physical markets.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,341 yuan ($483.90) per tonne, down 16 yuan per tonneMay hot-rolled coil: 3,329 yuan per tonne, down 1 yuan per tonneDalian Commodity Exchange&nb...Read More
Steady demand for ferrous scrap in Asia has failed to stop the ongoing price slides in the region.There have been bookings of bulk cargoes in Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan this week. However, prices are lower than previous weeks.A major South Korean steel mill bought at least 45,000 tonnes of heavy melting scrap (HMS) 1 at a base price of $325 per tonne cfr from the United States.A major Vietnam...Read More
The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday December 13.Base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange had mostly drifted lower by the close on Wednesday December 12 but were confined to tight ranges throughout what was an unexceptional trading day. Read more in our live futures report.Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:A historic backwardation in zinc forwar...Read More
Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Wednesday December 12* Copper -$129.85 (-896.92 yuan) Aluminium -$439.71 (-3,037.19 yuan) Zinc -$113.3 (-782.6 yuan) Nickel $381.09 (2,632.27 yuan) *Fastmarkets calculates the physical arbitrage for import into China daily by using SHFE front-month and LME three-month...Read More