Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States inched closer to the $91-per-hundredweight ($1,820-per-short-ton) mark again on Monday July 19, supported by strong demand for hot band amid lean supply.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $90.96 per hundredweight ($1,819.20 per short ton) on July 19, an increase of 0.23% from $90.75 per cwt on Friday July 16 and...Read More
German steelmakers settled their monthly steel scrap contracts for July at higher prices due to continuous tight availability in the market, sources told Fastmarkets.Prices for new scrap grades, such as E8, have risen higher compared with other grades due to short supply from both automotive producers and flat steel service centres. Stoppages and reduced production rates in the automotive sector r...Read More
Stocks of aluminium held in Major Japanese Ports (MJP) rose by 8% in June, firming to the highest level in nine months, according to data compiled by the trading house Marubeni.Total stocks were 309,100 tonnes, up from 285,600 tonnes in May 2021, but lower than the 347,300 tonnes of aluminium held in June...Read More
Ports' operations in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal have slightly improved, while cobalt hydroxide market participants wait for a clearer direction, sources told Fastmarkets.Ports and terminal operations in Durban and Richard Bay in KwaZula-Natal, South Africa have slowly begun to normalize while the country has prioritized recovery after recent civil unrest. Most participants held watchful attitude...Read More
Traders in mainland China are seeking to sell stockpiled lead to Taiwan and Southeast Asia amid a worsening arbitrage for imports, which - since June - has shifted to being more favorable for exports.This comes after a noticeable gap emerged between lead prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange since May, which incentivized Chinese lead traders to buy LME stock while s...Read More
Activity in the EU hot-rolled coil market in the week to Friday July 16 was low due to a seasonal demand slowdown and limited availability.Buyers were holding back from acquiring material due to the summer holiday slowdown and uncertainty about the price trend. Domestic prices have remained high despite a slight correction lower while buyers, who have sufficient stocks for a couple of months, pref...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Inland dry ports will be constructed to facilitate bulk material transport and to improve air quality, according to a notice released by Handan Ecology and Environment Bureau (HEEB) on Monday July 19.HEEB released a notice on forwarding the Work Plan of Hebei province Atmospheric Pollution Control 2021, where the Leading Group of Hebei province Atmospheric Pollution Control proposed to construct i...Read More
Australia-listed Vulcan Energy has signed a binding offtake agreement to supply South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) with battery grade lithium hydroxide from it's 'zero carbon' facility in Germany, the producer said on Monday July 19.Vulcan will supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to LGES for an initial five-year term. Commercial deliveries are set to commence in 2025 and there is an option...Read More
Ports' operations in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal have slightly improved, while cobalt hydroxide market participants wait for a clearer direction, sources told Fastmarkets.Ports and terminal operations in Durban and Richard Bay in KwaZula-Natal, South Africa have slowly begun to normalize while the country has prioritized recovery after recent civil unrest. Most participants held watchful attitude...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed on the morning of Monday July 19, with nickel and tin the standout performers, driven higher by supply disruptions.United States 10-year treasury yields continue to trend lower, despite inflationary pressures in the countryBase metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed this morning, with nickel up by...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Bulk ferro-alloy prices have shown impressive gains again this month, with ferro-silicon, silicon metal and manganese alloy prices all making significant increases. Noble alloy markets also enjoyed upward momentum, with both vanadium and molybdenum prices rising sharply.Recovering demand from steelmakers globally, together w...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Global welded pipe prices surged in May as strong demand and still-insufficient supply lifted flat steel prices.The biggest jumps were seen in China, which was hit by the unexpected announcement of the elimination of export rebates on welded pipes in April. Chinese seaborne prices reached $1,570 per tonne fob for longitudina...Read More
The pig iron import market in the United States was slow during the week to Friday July 16 because buyers held sufficient stocks and were waiting for prices to be reduced.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $625-645 per tonne on Friday, down from $650-655 per tonne a week before."Both Russia and Ukraine have unsold cargoes for August shipment and later....Read More
Market activity in the European Union's hot-rolled coil sector has been limited due to the seasonal slowdown and long lead times, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 19.In addition to seasonal factors, buyers have shown limited interest in acquiring flat steel due to sufficient stocks and long lead times from domestic and overseas suppliers.Credit lines for buyers have also been exhausted over...Read More
The London Metal Exchange launched new lithium and aluminium premium futures contracts on Monday July 19, which are cash-settled against Fastmarkets' assessments.The lithium contract will be cash-settled against Fastmarkets' price assessment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea. Fastmarkets' most recent assessment for this price...Read More
The Chinese government will increase the quantity of metal in its second batch of non-ferrous metal reserves sales at the end of July or beginning of August, sources said on Monday July 19.An estimated 230,000 tonnes of non-ferrous metal will enter the market soon, made up of 50,000 tonnes of copper, 80,000 tonnes of zinc, and 100,000 tonnes of aluminium, sources said. This quantity is more than...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
London Metal Exchange ring dealing members have a decision to make - whether to remain one or not.The LME has just announced it will reopen the open outcry trading floor, which was temporarily closed due to Covid-19, on September 6.Its plan, however, comes with a twist; some ring dealers say, a knife.The official prices - which the global trade and industry use as the global reference for physical...Read More
Alumina prices on an fob Australia basis were at a four-month high on Monday July 19 due to an increase in liquidity, with cargoes changing hands at higher prices.Fastmarkets assessed its daily alumina index, fob Australia, at $289.36 per tonne on Monday, the highest since March 19.Demand for cargoes has increased over the past week. But the rise in prices also related to concern in the market abo...Read More