Turkish long steel prices have continued to move in line with the lira-dollar exchange rate over the past week, sources said on Thursday November 15.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Turkey was TRY3,250-3,400 ($593-621) per tonne ex-works, up from the last week's TRY3,200-3,335 per tonne including 18% VAT.The slight increase in...Read More
Turkish long steel export prices have fallen over the past week amid limited demand and weakening steel prices in China, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 15.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for rebar exports out of Turkey was $505-510 per tonne fob, down from the $510-520 per tonne of last week.The decrease in the assessment followed news of a rebar cargo...Read More
Turkish steel producers resumed their deep-sea scrap purchasing on Thursday November 15, following a downturn in prices.A steel producer in northern Turkey booked a Baltic Sea cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $335 per tonne cfr.Another steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a United States cargo, comprising 17,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $335 per tonne and 3,000...Read More
UK ferrous scrap prices for deliveries in November have been rolled over due to steady business and a small increase in European export prices to the key destination of Turkey, which meant there has been no support for changes to British domestic scrap prices, trade sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday November 14.UK suppliers had initially pushed for an increase of around ?5-10 ($6-13) per t...Read More
Iron ore prices weakened on Thursday November 15, marking the start of the winter heating season in north China and the accompanying steelmaking restrictions.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $74.93 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.98 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $74.73 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.98 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $77.97 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.2...Read More
Turkish imported billet prices have weakened slightly over the past week on limited demand and a downturn in steel prices in China, while domestic and export billet prices were unchanged, sources said on Thursday November 15.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for billet imports into Turkey was $475-480 per tonne cfr, narrowing downward from last week's $475-485 per tonne cfr.The CIS export bille...Read More
CIS export billet prices softened slightly in the middle of this week with negative sentiment starting to spread due to the return of Chinese suppliers to export markets as well as rumors of possible tariffs on billet imports into Egypt in the near term."The case has been raised, but the officials responsible for a study have not made any comment yet," an Egyptian source told Fastmarkets on Thursd...Read More
Steel billet import prices in Egypt have fallen slightly over the past week amid poor demand, while domestic rebar prices were unchanged despite expectations of lower values, sources said on Thursday November 15.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel billet imported into Egypt was $480-485 per tonne cfr on Thursday, narrowing downward from $480-490 per tonne cfr last week.Billet producers...Read More
The number of new passenger car registrations in the EU dropped by 7.34% year-on-year in October 2018, the European Automotive Manufacturers Assn (ACEA) said on Thursday November 15.New car sales in Europe totaled 1,083,635 units in October, compared with 1,169,462 vehicles sold in the corresponding month of 2017.The decrease in October was "at a more moderate pace than in September," ACEA said. D...Read More
Swiss multinational investment bank, UBS Group, has applied for Category II membership on the London Metal Exchange, according to a note released by the exchange on Thursday November 15. The LME currently has 32 Category II members and the Swiss bank's London subsidiary, UBS Ltd, is already a member. Last month, Chinese broker Nanhua Futures similarly took steps...Read More
Zinc futures on the London Metal Exchange rallied 3% at the close on Thursday November 15, ending a weeklong downtrend and supported by a decade-low downdraft in total LME inventories.Across the entire base metals asset class, volumes traded on the exchange were moderately high, with the trading of zinc's 15,062 lots the most since Thursday August 16 and second on the day to copper's 16,465 lots."...Read More
Swiss multinational investment bank, UBS Group, has applied for Category II membership on the London Metal Exchange, according to a note released by the exchange on Thursday November 15. The LME currently has 32 Category II members and the Swiss bank's London subsidiary, UBS Ltd, is already a member. Last month, Chinese broker Nanhua Futures similarly took steps...Read More
[updating with detail and comment throughout]Jiangxi Copper and Antofagasta agreed terms on 2019 copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) at $80.80 per tonne/8.08 cents per lb on Thursday November 15, sources from both companies told Fastmarkets.The deal is in line with market expectations and is 1.8% lower than the benchmark of $82.25/8.225 cents agreed in 2018 between Freeport...Read More
Liquidity in the Pacific alumina market picked up on Thursday November 15 with prices on a fob Australia basis hitting a fresh eight-month low. Fastmarkets MB's benchmark daily fob Australia index stands at $410.98 per tonne on Thursday, down from $423.33 per tonne the day before. The index is now at levels not seen since March 2018 before Hydro declared force majeure at the Alunorte refinery...Read More
The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Friday November 16.Zinc futures on the London Metal Exchange rallied by 3% at the close on Thursday November 15, ending a weeklong downward trend and supported by a decade-low in total LME inventories. Read more in our live futures report.Here are how prices looked at the close of trading:Jiangxi Copper and Antofagasta have agreed...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Thursday November 15.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange rallied against a high dollar index during morning trading, recovering losses made at Wednesday's close and topped by strong gains in zinc and nickel futures.Climbing by 3%, the three-month zinc price reached an intraday high of $2,595 per tonne over...Read More
Good morning from Fastmarkets MB's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Thursday November 15.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up across the board during Asian morning trading on Thursday, reversing the previous day's losses on a weaker dollar and easing trade tensions.Check Fastmarkets MB's live futures report here. Nickel premiums in China...Read More
Zinc futures on the London Metal Exchange rallied 3% at the close on Thursday November 15, ending a weeklong downtrend and supported by a decade-low downdraft in total LME inventories.Across the entire base metals asset class, volumes traded on the exchange were moderately high, with the trading of zinc's 15,062 lots the most since Thursday August 16 and second on the day to copper's 16,465 lots."...Read More
Swiss multinational investment bank, UBS Group, has applied for Category II membership on the London Metal Exchange, according to a note released by the exchange on Thursday November 15. The LME currently has 32 Category II members and the Swiss bank's London subsidiary, UBS Ltd, is already a member. Last month, Chinese broker Nanhua Futures similarly took steps...Read More
The Comex copper price moved higher on Thursday November 15 amid a broad-based increase due to a solid macroeconomic backdrop ahead of the end of year holiday season .The copper price for December settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange jumped 4.20 to $2.7520 per lb."We continue to expect a strong rebound in copper prices by the end of 2018 principally because investor...Read More