Fastmarkets has identified a necessary clarification to the nickel sulfate specification with regard to delivery time.The delivery time for Fastmarkets' nickel sulfate ex-works China price assessment is seven days, which was not reflected in the specifications when the price was launched in July 2018.Fastmarkets confirms that the specifications read as follows, with the clarification in italics:MB...Read More
Base metal prices were mixed on the London Metal Exchange during morning trading on Friday August 8, with copper and aluminium leading the complex and lead down by 0.7%."Concerns about the delta strain's impact on growth have been weighing on metals this week - about half of China's provinces are trying to limit the spread. In Australia, two-thirds of the population is back in lockdown," Anna Stab...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions in Europe, Asia and the United States for the week ending Friday August 6.ChinaThe seaborne low-grade manganese ore price edged lower after suppliers cut offers on September cargoes amid rising port inventories and weakness in the domestic portside market.The seaborne high-grade manganese ore price ticked up with higher offer prices in the spot market, t...Read More
An overview of the aerospace materials markets and the latest price moves.Jessica Long, Ruby Liu and Carrie...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Janie Davies, Dalila...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...Read More
Chinese copper smelter Guangxi Nanguo has brought forward its maintenance schedule because the local government has stepped up its measures to restrict power consumption by industrial facilities, Fastmarkets has learnt.The private smelter, which has capacity for 300,000 tonnes per year, will be shut for 45 days across August-September and therefore will not be procuring extra copper raw material o...Read More
(Updates prices, recasts) Aug 6 (Reuters) - Copper prices fell on Friday as solid U.S.jobs data pushed the dollar sharply higher, making metals moreexpensive for buyers with other currencies.Copper had been trading higher after news that a union atthe world's biggest copper mine, Chile's Escondida, told workersto prepare for a strike that would reduce supply.But by 1605 GMT, benchmark copper on th...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday August 5 that are worth another look.Brazil has joined other major commodity producers in South America, such as Chile and Peru, in a debate about whether to increase mining royalties because of soaring prices - and it can be...Read More
There was a strong rise in the European market for low-carbon ferro-chrome in the week ended Tuesday August 3, in response to tight supply and the imposition of export taxes in Russia and China.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome, 0.10% C, average 65-70% Cr, delivered Europe, was $2.17-2.51 per lb Cr on August 3, a rise of 2.4% from $2.10-2.47 per lb Cr one week earlier."Offers prices a...Read More
The emergence of cheaper South Korea-origin steel scrap in the market has reduced prices for imported scrap in China, with the Chinese market is still reeling from strict production cuts, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday August 5.Chinese scrap demand has been dampened by lower converter and EAF operation rates Strong shredded prices in Pakistan prevented sales to Bangladesh A major South Korea...Read More
Brazil has joined other major commodity producers in South America, such as Chile and Peru, in a debate about whether to increase mining royalties because of soaring prices - and it can be no surprise that the industry is fiercely against such a move.Amid discussions of personal and corporate tax reform in Brazil's lower house of Congress, there was a possibility of higher taxes being imposed on t...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Thursday August 5, and those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly weaker.Generally, LME base metals seem to be boxed in between scale-up selling when prices are near the highs and dip-buying into pullbacks. This is perhaps not surprising given that we are in the middle of the summer lull.Shanghai base metals are gener...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday August 5 that are worth another look.Brazil has joined other major commodity producers in South America, such as Chile and Peru, in a debate about whether to increase mining royalties because of soaring prices - and it can be...Read More
Brazilian imports of primary unalloyed aluminium rose by 142% year on year in July, putting a newly approved duty-free quota extension under pressure, according to data published by the ministry economy on Wednesday August 4.The country imported 37,181 tonnes of primary aluminium in July, up significantly from 15,376 tonnes a year before.During the January-July period, imports totaled 26...Read More
Brazilian aluminium association Abal has appointed a woman as executive president for the first time, with Janaina Donas taking over the role previously held by Milton Rego after a seven-month recruitment process, the group said on Thursday August 5.Donas most recently acted as an external relations and new business director for Latin America in Peru and the United States for US-based gold-copper-...Read More
Chinese exporters raised their offers for ammonium paratungstate (APT) this week amid concerns about higher replacement costs and currency fluctuations owing to shipment delays.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for tungsten APT 88.5%WO3 min, fob main ports China was $302-308 per metric tonne unit (mtu) on Wednesday August 4, up by $5-7 per mtu (2%) from $295-303 per mtu on July 28. Deals were r...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday August 5 that are worth another look.Brazil has joined other major commodity producers in South America, such as Chile and Peru, in a debate about whether to increase mining royalties because of soaring prices - and it can be...Read More
Cobalt hydroxide prices rose recently despite weakness in downstream salt prices in the domestic Chinese market, as ongoing disruptions and delays at port operations in South Africa have prompted sellers to keep their offers firm and take advantage of spot sales where buyers need prompt availability.Fastmarkets' assessment for the cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China was 88-92...Read More
Bangladeshi steelmakers have showed only limited interest in buying imports of steel scrap over the last week amid a continuing strict lockdown in the country, sources said on Thursday August 5.The country's strict Covid-19 lockdown was extended until Tuesday August 10, government officials announced on August 3. A feature of this latest lockdown is that most heavy industry such as steel productio...Read More