Prices for hot- and cold-rolled steel sheet and heavy plate in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow continued to fall in the week ended Monday August 23, sources have told Fastmarkets.Hot-rolled sheet and heavy plate prices decreased by 3-5% week on week, while the drop for cold-rolled sheet prices was more pronounced at 10% week on week.Opinions varied about why this happened. One trad...Read More
Domestic rebar producers in the United Arab Emirates reduced their prices on Tuesday August 24 amid low demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Demand was low because of the summer slowdown and falling prices; buyers preferred to wait to determine how much further prices will fall.The country's biggest producer, Emirates Steel, offered rebar at 2,610 dirhams ($710.46) per tonne, down from 2,957 dirh...Read More
Domestic prices for steel rebar in Russia's Central Federal District widened downward by 3,500 roubles ($47) per tonne in the week to Monday August 23.Oversupply and an export duty were the main reasons for another round of price decline that began on July 19. The recent downward trend has been in line with market expectations, however, with market participants describing it as predictable and con...Read More
China's domestic rebar market continued to push upward on Tuesday August 24, but the higher prices are weighing on buying interest. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,200-5,230 yuan ($802-807) per tonne, up by 60-70 yuan per tonneSpot prices rode the surge in the rebar futures market during the day, though this resulted in a slight drop in demand, sources said.Trading companies that actively...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from the deep-sea scrap import markets for the second working day of the week amid limited finished steel sales, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday August 24.The most recent deep-sea trade was reported at the end of the week to August 20, when a steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a United States cargo composed of 20,000 tonnes of HMS...Read More
Rising Chinese ferrous futures on Monday did little to raise steel scrap demand in China, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday August 24.Demand for importing steel scrap in China remains mutedBuying sentiment in Taiwan coolsSouth Korean demand for Japan high-grade scrap still highChinaThe market for steel scrap imported into China remained quiet on Tuesday despite gains in the steel futures markets...Read More
The spread between prices for 65% Fe iron ore and 62% Fe products have narrowed rapidly in recent weeks due to the former weakening at a faster pace than the latter.This has resulted in a mixed long-term outlook for high-grade fines, market sources told Fastmarkets.Narrowing spreadAs hints of the central Chinese government's intention of keeping this year's output from exceeding last year's began...Read More
Iron ore prices largely increased on Tuesday August 24 with active trading at China's ports.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $146.13 per tonne, up by $9.42 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $147.96 per tonne, up by $10.74 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $113.91 per tonne, up by $7.27 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao: $166.1...Read More
The spread between prices for 65% Fe iron ore and 62% Fe products have narrowed rapidly in recent weeks due to the former weakening at a faster pace than the latter.This has resulted in a mixed long-term outlook for high-grade fines, market sources told Fastmarkets.Narrowing spreadAs hints of the central Chinese government's intention of keeping this year's output from exceeding last year's began...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 1 point in pre-opening trade. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the July Durable Goods Orders report at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was a drop of 0.5% versus a gain of 0.9% in June. Actual was a slip of 0.1%. Excluding transportation orders, consensus was an increase of 0.5% versus a gain of 0.5%...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 24 that are worth another look....Read More
Aluminium's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange, backed by a constrained physical market, was just $5.50 per tonne short of its latest year-to-date high on Tuesday August 24, with nickel and zinc also climbing back above key psychological levels while most commodities and equities ticked upward.Aluminium's futures contract showed an intraday high of $2,636.50 per tonne on Tuesday, just...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
Iron ore prices largely increased on Tuesday August 24 with active trading at China's ports.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $146.13 per tonne, up by $9.42 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $147.96 per tonne, up by $10.74 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $113.91 per tonne, up by $7.27 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao: $166.1...Read More
Steel billet prices in key Asian import markets have continued to edge down in recent days amid weaker demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday August 24.Chinese ferrous futures gained ground on Monday and Tuesday after last week's crash, but the reaction from the physical spot market for steel billet has so far been limited, with bids from Chinese buyers still far below the offer prices.O...Read More
Prices of hot-rolled coil in China's domestic market rose for the third straight day on Tuesday August 24 following a surge in futures while the Shanghai Futures Exchange ferrous complex rose.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,710-5,720 yuan ($881-883) per tonne, up by 20-50 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the SHFE surged by 140 yuan per tonne on Tuesday from the previous day's clos...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 24 that are worth another look....Read More
As the world's media spotlight falls on Afghanistan, Fastmarkets looks at why reported claims of incoming Chinese mining deals are unlikely to be fulfilled soon.Mes Aynak, Afghanistan's most well-known copper project, means "small copper deposit" in Pashto. Indications suggest it is anything but.The deposit holds 240 million tonnes of 2.3% grade copper ore, according to the United States Geologica...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
Cancellation of 44,000 tonnes of copper in London Metal Exchange warehouses kept the metal's nearby price spreads in backwardation on Monday August 23, while sentiment for LME prices turned positive after a week of selling.Some 44,475 tonnes of copper were booked for removal from the Busan, Singapore and Kaohsiung warehouses on Monday, reducing the amount of metal on-warrant to 197,750 tonnes, the...Read More