China's mixed signals about its decarbonization goals have raised doubts over the country's purported plans to cut steel production in the second half of 2021, market sources said.The central Chinese government had asked steelmakers to reduce steel output in the second half for two reasons. The first is the short-term target of keeping the country's total steel output for this year from exceeding...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
Increased South African exports of semi-carbonate manganese ore are filling up inventories at Chinese ports, according to market sources.Fastmarkets assessed the manganese ore inventories at the main Chines ports of Tianjin and Qinzhou at 5.65-5.87 million tonnes on Monday August 2, up from 5.32-5.60 million tonnes a month earlier, but down from 6.35-6.46 million tonnes at the start of 2021.But th...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
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 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
The three month price of zinc outperformed the rest of the London Metal Exchange complex with a 1.8% rise on Thursday August 5 and most other prices advanced despite limited traded volumes. The metal rose to $3,028.50 per tonne on Thursday, its highest close since Monday, when it reached $3,050.50 per tonne. Top Canadian miner Teck Resources announced late on Wednesday that its Trail Ope...Read More
Iron ore prices decreased on Thursday August 5 with reduced market expectations of looser steel production restrictions in China, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $171.55 per tonne,down $12.14 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $172.76 per tonne,down $11.63 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $136.28 per tonne,down $11.63 per tonn...Read More
Seaborne coking coal stayed strong in both the fob and cfr markets on Thursday August 5, with limited tradable resources and high offers in both markets, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $216.79 per tonne, up $1.28 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $328.54 per tonne, up $1.05 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $186.41 per tonne, up $1.50 per tonn...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
US President Joe Biden has unveiled plans make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs). The move - backed by major automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, along with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union - is part of the White House's proposed Build Back Better agenda, along with...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
A summary of European copper producer Aurubis' third quarter financial and production results released on Thursday August 5In brief:?EUR?Europe's largest copper producer, Aurubis, reported a 62% increase in total revenue during the third quarter (April-June) of its 2020/21 fiscal year compared with the same period last year.?EUR?The company's earnings before tax (EBT) were also up by 98% duri...Read More
Work at miner Teck Resources' Trail Operations, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, has been disrupted by smoke from wildfires in the region, Teck announced on Wednesday August 4.The Canada-based company said that its zinc refining operations at Trail were running at about 70% of normal rates, and that although lead refining continued to operate normally, lead smelting operations have been t...Read More
A summary of Canadian copper producer Taseko's second quarter financial and operating results, released on Wednesday August 4. Canadian mining company Taseko reported a 4.7% increase in total revenue during the second quarter of 2021 in comparison with the same period in 2020.The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the third quarter were do...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil were fairly stable in Northern Europe in the week to Wednesday August 5 despite falling import offers, sources have told Fastmarkets.In Southern Europe, however, prices declined due to seasonally weaker demand, cheaper import offers and increased availability, according to market participants.Northern EuropeFastmarkets' weekly price assessment for ste...Read More
Prices for export billet originating from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) softened in the week to August 5 due to multiple low bids from Turkish and Chinese customers.Earlier in the week, information about a 20,000 tonne shipment of 3sp Ukraine-origin billet sold to Libya at $690 per tonne cfr was heard. The price nets back to $645 per tonne fob Black Sea, the source said.According to...Read More
The domestic markets for hot-rolled coil across Europe were seasonally quiet on Thursday August 5, with prices holding stable, Fastmarkets heard.European buyers have replenished their HRC stocks and were largely holding back from trading while evaluating the market situation. Regular trading activity was expected to revive toward September, following the traditional market activity cycle in Europe...Read More
US hot-rolled coil import prices dropped in Fastmarkets' latest assessment, while prices for imported cold-rolled coil and galvanized sheet simultaneously climbed to record highs. "It seems that every country wants to sell to the US right now," an East Coast trading source said. "Of course the Turks, but also Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. Furthermore, a few of these countries have material fo...Read More