Steel scrap prices in Mexico were mostly stable in the steelmaking regions of Bajio and Monterrey in the week ended Friday August 13, with buyers and sellers disputing whether to reduce prices.Price cuts for several grades of scrap were announced in the last two weeks by at least two steel producers, following a similar trend in international prices. Total price reductions could amount to 400-450...Read More
Imports of iron ore into the United States fell 80% month on month in May, when shipments from Brazil slowed to a trickle, according to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS).Iron ore imports totaled 95,000 tonnes in May compared with 482,000 tonnes in April and 345,000 tonnes in March. The total, however, was 21.79% higher than the 78,000 tonnes imported in the same month last year.Deliveries...Read More
Turkish steel producers are continuing with deep-sea scrap purchases for September shipment, but at a slow pace, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday August 17.A steel mill in the Izmir region booked a Venezuelan cargo consisting of 25,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $449 per tonne cfr late on Monday August 16.The cargo was scheduled to be shipped in the second half...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices fell on Tuesday August 17, with crude steel production cuts in China leading to thin trading and depressing market sentiment.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $160.75 per tonne, down $2.77 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $161.65 per tonne, down $2.38 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $129.54 per t...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices in both the cfr China and fob Australia markets remained largely stable on thin trading on Tuesday August 17, with most buyers cautious about accepting high offers, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $351.82 per tonne, up $1.16 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $305.61 per tonne, up $0.60 per tonne Premi...Read More
Robust domestic prices in the Japanese steel scrap market were keeping prices for material from the East Asian country strong despite tepid demand from major importers, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday August 17.Japanese local scrap prices remain firmBuying interest for imported HS limited in ChinaTaiwan scrap import prices inch higher amid strong offers.JapanContinued robust demand in Japan's...Read More
The first shipment of iron ore from Strike Resources' Apurimac project in Peru is being loaded at the South American country's Port of Pisco, the miner said on Monday August 16.The loading of some 35,000 tonnes of Apurimac Premium Lump direct-shipping ore (DSO) commenced last weekend, and is expected to be complete by Wednesday August 18, it said. This first shipment will be delivered to China, wi...Read More
Coal exports from Australia's Queensland state increased by 8% year on year in July, according to data from the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp and Gladstone Ports Corp.Queensland, the country's metallurgical coal hub, exported 16.87 million tonnes of coal - including some thermal coal - last month, up by 1.25 million tonnes from the 15.62 million tonnes shipped in July last year, according to th...Read More
Domestic hot-rolled coil prices in China narrowed on Tuesday August 17 while the export market remained stagnated on persistent fears over an introduction of export duties for the flat steel product.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,760-5,800 yuan ($889-895) per tonne, narrowing by 10 yuan per tonne While weak demand put pressure on spot HRC prices, steelmaking costs and output cuts provided sup...Read More
The downward trend in China's domestic rebar market was snapped on Tuesday August 17 amid stronger demand from the construction sector. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,190-5,220 yuan ($801-805) per tonne, unchangedEnd-user demand in eastern China has increased gradually over the past two days on good weather and an improving Covid-19 situation. The number of infections in...Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed...Read More
Glencore has started a long-term strategic partnership with Britishvolt, a UK-based investor in lithium-ion battery cell technologies and associated research and development, Glencore said on Tuesday August 17.The Switzerland-based trader-producer will supply responsibly sourced cobalt to the Btitish company, but it did not disclose the amount of cobalt to be committed."This is a huge step in the...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 5 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of July U.S. Housing Starts at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was a slip to 1.608 million units from1.643 million units in June. Actual was a drop to 1.534 million units.The Canadian Dollar added 0.12 at US79.37 cents following release of C...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 16 that are worth another look.Apparent steel use in the European Union will increase by 11.2% year on year in 2021, the European steel association Eurofer said in the week to August 16.A lack of available containers for shipments out...Read More
Prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close on Monday August 16, with only tin making a solid advance, while the rest of the metals were either down or around their Friday levels. Tin's three-month price was up to $35,680 per tonne on Monday, up 1% from last Friday's closing price of $35,680 per tonne. It reached its latest all-time high of $35,955 per tonne on Thursday of last wee...Read More
Fastmarkets has identified a necessary clarification to the nickel sulfate specification with regard to timing of loading.The timing of loading for Fastmarkets' nickel sulfate ex-works China price assessment is within seven days, which was not reflected in the specifications when the price assessment was launched in July 2018.Fastmarkets confirms that the specifications are as follows, with the cl...Read More
A lack of available containers for shipments out of the main Peruvian port of Callao, and shipping costs that have tripled since the start of this year, were hampering exports of copper, zinc and lead from the South American country, even as mine production was recovering from shutdowns in 2020 that were forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.Peru was the world's third-largest producer of zinc in 2020 an...Read More
Seaborne low- and high-grade manganese ore prices ticked downward in the week to Friday August 13 under pressure from portside markets, where weaknesses have persisted over the past month, despite higher freight rates and a steady performance by the manganese alloy sector.Fastmarkets calculated its weekly index for manganese ore, 44% Mn, cif Tianjin, at $5.32 per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) on Fr...Read More
China's nickel pig iron (NPI) prices decreased in the week to Friday August 13 amid a tumbling stainless steel market, though the stable cost of ore upstream kept them from falling rapidly.Fastmarkets assessed the nickel pig iron, high-grade NPI content 10-15%, spot, ddp China at 1,380-1,420 yuan ($213-219) per nickel unit last Friday, down by 10 yuan per tonne from 1,390-1,430 yuan a week earlier...Read More