Chinese aluminium production in July of 3.26 million tonnes was down by 0.9% from June, according to National Bureau of Statistics data published on Monday August 16.Although domestic aluminium production in July was still up by 7.4% year on year, it was down for the third consecutive month following June's production of 3.29 million tonnes and May's 3.32 million tonnes.China produced 22.89 millio...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
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
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
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 Monday August 16.The association has downgraded the outlook slightly compared to figures publishedin May 2021.In its previous outlook, Eurofer expected the EU's apparent steel consumption toincrease by 11.7% year on year in 2021.The association also...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 17 points in pre-opening news.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the August Empire State Manufacturing Index at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was a drop to 30.00 from 43.00 in July. Actual was a drop to 18.3.Chipotle dropped $10.31 to $1,877.50 after Raymond James downgraded the stock from Strong Buy...Read More
Eastern China rebar prices held steady on Friday August 13 on tighter supply due to lower spot market inventories, but prices were down by 10 yuan per tonne week on week due to Thursday's fall.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,200-5,230 yuan ($803-808) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing) weekly assessment: 5,170-5,210 yuan per tonne, up by 60-70 yuan per tonneFalling spot market invento...Read More
Global ferrous scrap prices have continued to fall in the week to August 13 due to high freight rates, Covid-19 outbreaks in importing countries and poor downstream steel demand.Turkish scrap prices fell amid weak downstream demandUnited States scrap exports were poor due to high freight costsWeak demand for imports in Vietnam due to Covid-19China abstains from purchasing due to large bid-offer sp...Read More
Spot prices for imported hot-rolled coil in Vietnam were stable in the week to Friday August 13 amid poor spot liquidity while major Vietnamese domestic producer Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS) reduced its prices, sources said.South Korean traders continued to offer low prices for Russian HRC from Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK), including the remaining quantities of 15,000-20,000...Read More
The No1 workers' union at the Escondida copper mine confirmed the signing of a labor deal with operating company BHP - averting a strike - and called it the best labor negotiations ever for the Chilean mining industry, according to an announcement on Friday August 13.Approval of the deal was almost unanimous after BHP improved its offer during government-led mediation."This negotiation will, no do...Read More
The No1 workers' union at the Escondida copper mine confirmed the signing of a labor deal with operating company BHP - averting a strike - and called it the best labor negotiations ever for the Chilean mining industry, according to an announcement on Friday August 13.Approval of the deal was almost unanimous after BHP improved its offer during government-led mediation."This negotiation will, no do...Read More
The No1 workers' union at the Escondida copper mine confirmed the signing of a labor deal with operating company BHP - averting a strike - and called it the best labor negotiations ever for the Chilean mining industry, according to an announcement on Friday August 13.Approval of the deal was almost unanimous after BHP improved its offer during government-led mediation."This negotiation will, no do...Read More
Aluminium primary foundry alloy (PFA) premiums were unchanged this month in Europe and the United States, continuing to lag other value-added products such as billet.EuropeFastmarkets assessed the aluminium primary foundry alloy, silicon 7 ingot premium, ddp Germany at $510-550 per tonne on Friday August 13, flat from July 9. "The market has been really quiet this week. We are waiting until Septem...Read More
Treatment charges for zinc concentrates have widened in the first half of August, with the market seeing minimal spot business ahead of what was expected to be large-scale buying from Chinese smelters later in the year.Fastmarkets' assessment of the zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China, widened downward to $75-90 per tonne on Friday August 13, from $78-90 per tonne two weeks earlier. After years of...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves in the week to Friday August 13.Susan Zou, Yingchi Yang and...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were trading mostly higher at the close on Friday August 13, with copper, aluminium and lead all making gains.The three-month aluminium price closed at $2,600 per tonne, up from $2,582.50 per tonne. This was the first time it has closed above $2,600 per tonne since August 2.The price hit an intraday trading high of $2,622.50 per tonne, also the highe...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions in Europe, China and the United States on Friday August 13.China The ferro-silicon price in China strengthened week on week amid generally positive sentiment, with overall supply failing to meet demand due to electricity cuts in many provinces. In addition, the rising ferro-silicon futures, coupled with the elevated Chinese price for magnesium - the...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment and refining Charges (TC/RCs) continued their surge in early August, with traders and smelters setting down strong bids at clear levels after weeks of inactivity.The Fastmarkets TC/RC index, which tracks the mid-point of the market, came in at $54.6 per tonne / 5.46 cents per pound on August 13, up from $51.8 / 5.18 cents last Friday to reach its highest point in fifte...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves in the week to Friday August 13.Susan Zou, Yingchi Yang and...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Janie Davies, Dalila Ouerghi...Read More