Imports of hot rolled coil (HRC) into the European Union (EU) rose by 5.8% to 3.52 million tonnes during the first five months of 2018 from 3.3 million tonnes in January-May 2017, according to regional steel association Eurometal.Import volumes of Russian-origin HRC into the EU rose sharply to 749,000 tonnes in January-May 2018 from 147,000 tonnes a year earlier.In October 2017, the European Commi...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices edged higher on Friday June 29 despite thin trading, while export prices fell as overseas buyers bet HRC prices in China will soften in the coming days, sources told Metal Bulletin.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,260-4,270 yuan ($643-645) per tonne, narrowing up 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 4,170-4,180 yuan per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneDo...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Raw materials A cargo of premium hard coking coal fetched a significantly higher price on Thursday, though market participants have dismissed the transaction as one-off.China's coke prices have peaked, sources said this week, with downside concerns arising over the decline in export activity and th...Read More
Domestic beam prices have risen in the United States after early June price hikes from Nucor and Gerdau, while import prices remain flat on a lack of market activity following the implementation of Section 232 tariffs against steel imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.Prices for domestic W8-x8-inch beams are now $43.50 per hundredweight fob mill ($870 per ton), up 3.6% from...Read More
Rebar producers in the United Arab Emirates have rolled over their prices for July bookings. Demand was moderate in the country because of summer season, sources said. The region's biggest steel producer,...Read More
Prices for alloy steel scrap in the United Kingdom and Europe were unchanged this week despite falls in the price of both ferro-chrome and nickel.The third-quarter ferro-chrome benchmark settled at $1.38 per lb this week, a drop from the second-quarter price of $1.42 per lb.Meanwhile, the London Metal Exchange three-month official nickel bid/offer spread was at $14,795/15,000 per tonne on Friday,...Read More
Turkish steel mills skipped Friday June 29, with no deep-sea scrap bookings leaving prices unchanged at the end of the week.Most mills have finished their bookings for July deliveries and are expected to resume scrap buying for August soon, sources said."Turkish mills ended their July bookings and probably...Read More
Russia will restrict scrap exports from its Far East region by banning shipments from main ports from late July to January 2019, according to an order from the government.From July 21, scrap exports will only be allowed through nine small ports in its Far East region. Shipments from Vladivostok, Nakhodka and Vanino, key ports for bulk cargo shipments from the region, will be forbidden. The order w...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were largely flat on Friday June 29 amid weak demand, despite futures moving higher. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,990-4,030 yuan ($602-609) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,870-3,910 yuan per tonne, unchanged Rebar futures rose further on Friday and billet prices also picked up on good demand. Prices in the spot market, however, were...Read More
Metal Bulletin proposes to increase the frequency of its assessment of cfr Southeast Asia import prices for steel billet to daily from weekly.This is in response to feedback that a terminal market import price into the Philippines would be a key indicator for the Asian billet sector.Liquidity has been observed to be sufficient for the weekly assessment to be made a daily one. This alteration is de...Read More
European stainless steel base prices were unchanged for the fourth week running on Friday June 29 despite a sharp rise in alloy surcharges for July. Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment for 2mm, grade-304 cold-rolled (CR) stainless steel sheet in Northern Europe was stable at ?,?1,000-1,050 ($1,156-1,214) per tonne delivered on Friday, while the weekly assessment for grade-316 C...Read More
Imports of hot rolled coil (HRC) into the European Union (EU) rose by 5.8% to 3.52 million tonnes during the first five months of 2018 from 3.3 million tonnes in January-May 2017, according to regional steel association Eurometal.Import volumes of Russian-origin HRC into the EU rose sharply to 749,000 tonnes in January-May 2018 from 147,000 tonnes a year earlier.In October 2017, the European Commi...Read More
"In out, in out, shake it all about" - not just a line from the Hokey Cokey, but a pretty accurate picture of the attitude of banks toward the metals (and general commodities) business during his career, Lord Copper reflects.Sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's not, and trading teams have been built, dismantled and built again with what often seems like gay abandon. But that all stopped after the Do...Read More
European stainless steel base prices were unchanged for the fourth week running on Friday June 29 despite a sharp rise in alloy surcharges for July. Metal Bulletin's weekly base price assessment for 2mm, grade-304 cold-rolled (CR) stainless steel sheet in Northern Europe was stable at ?,?1,000-1,050 ($1,156-1,214) per tonne delivered on Friday, while the weekly assessment for grade-316 C...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher at the close of trading on Friday June 29, ending the week on a slightly brighter note despite broad pressure from trade tensions and dollar strength. Continuing to struggle, zinc prices made a brief recovery during the day, moving back above $2,900 per tonne before drifting back toward $2,850 per tonne.The metal's three-month price made...Read More
Zinc concentrate treatment charges (TC) rose to their highest level so far this year at the end of June on a cif Asia Pacific basis, while the head of the Chinese zinc association has called for a 10% cut in national production to support zinc prices and TCs. Metal Bulletin assessed zinc concentrate TCs cif Asia Pacific at $20-$40 per tonne on Friday June 29. That compares with $20-$35 per to...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves for the start of the North American day on Friday June 29. In London Metal Exchange news this morning, nickel prices were trading closer to $15,000 per tonne, with ongoing drawdowns in total stock and consistent demand from the electric vehicle sector contributing to upswings. Tin prices continued to struggle during morning trading hindered by weak dem...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Friday June 29.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down during Asian morning trading on Friday, following a muted performance by the base metals on the London Metal Exchange on Thursday. Zinc was the exception to the weaker tone across the SHFE complex this morning,...Read More
Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.Raw materials A cargo of premium hard coking coal fetched a significantly higher price on Thursday, though market participants have dismissed the transaction as one-off.China's coke prices have peaked, sources said this week, with downside concerns arising over the decline in export activity and th...Read More