China's domestic stainless steel prices rose sharply over the week to Wednesday July 14 on concerns of tighter supply amid growing expectations for mills to cut production.Gains in the nickel market provided further support to stainless steel prices.The three-month nickel contract on the London Metal Exchange ended the official trading session on Wednesday at $18,698 per tonne, up by $381 per tonn...Read More
The latest forecasts and analysis of the ferrous scrap and iron metallics market from the Fastmarkets research team are ready to be viewed.Stifled automotive output this year, driven by a supply shortage of semiconductor chips used in vehicles, has tightened prime scrap availability and widened the spreads between this grade of steelmaking raw material and obsolete scrap.While wide prime-over-obso...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of base metals analysts are ready to view, including an upgrade to our aluminium price forecasts.Aluminium: Price forecasts raisedWe correctly expected the macro reflationary theme to raise the prices for all base metals but, with it being the base metal with by far the weakest fundamentals, we had expected the price of aluminium to underperform relative...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
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade 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....Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices across China's domestic market edged higher on Thursday July 15 while futures prices traded rangebound after Wednesday's sharp gains due to the increased likelihood of a drop in steel production in the second half of 2021, sources told Fastmarkets.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,860-5,920 yuan ($907-916) per tonne, narrowing upward by 20 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC...Read More
The European hot-rolled coil market remained quiet on Thursday July 15 on seasonally slow trading, with prices largely unchanged, supported by strong order books at steel mills and long lead times, sources told Fastmarkets.European buyers were still abstaining from making large bookings due to the still-high prices and sufficient stocks at most distributors. Exhausted credit lines were also limiti...Read More
(Adds detail, writes through) MELBOURNE, July 16 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto reported a 12% fall in quarterly iron ore shipments on Fridayafter storms affected its West Australian operations, but isexpected to report bumper results this month on soaring pricesfor the steel raw material. Rio said it now expects to ship near the lower end of itsrange of 325 million tonnes (mt) and 340 mt in calendar 2021,...Read More
Steel H-beam prices in Europe increased on Wednesday July 14 after mills raised their offer prices because they have full order books, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?1,050-1,080 ($1,242-1,277) per tonne on July 14, widening upward by ?,?10 per tonne from ?,?1,050-1,070 per tonne on July 7."The mills ha...Read More
Iron ore prices were largely rangebound on Wednesday July 14 despite activity on the trading platforms, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $218.66 per tonne, up by $0.18 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $220.00 per tonne, down by $1.46 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $178.41 per tonne, down by $0.25 per tonne65% Fe...Read More
The European Commission (EC) adopted on Wednesday July 14 a package of proposals under the EU Green deal that affect the metals industry, including a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).The CBAM will apply to imports into the EU of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers and electricity.During a transition period from 2023 to 2025, importers will have to report the emissions embodied...Read More
Automotive producers are likely to be the first downstream sector to shift toward using "green steel," Saudi Arabian steel producer Sulb Co's chief executive Ravi Singh told delegates at the Singapore Steel Forum 2021 on Wednesday July 14.He said car producers have consistently been the main innovators among the main manufacturers using steel products. "Major automotive producers such as Merc...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday July 14.Please click...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 13 points in pre-opening trade.U.S. economic news to be released at 8:30 AM EDT and 9:15 AM EDT is expected to show extensions of recent advances. July Empire State Manufacturing Survey to be released at 8:30 AM EDT is expected to increase to 18.50 from 17.40 in June. July Philly Fed Index to be released at 8:30 AM ED...Read More
Chinese authorities are unlikely to lower barriers to allow more lower-grade scrap to enter the country, panelists said at the Singapore Steel Forum 2021 on Wednesday July 14.China imported 221,409 tonnes of ferrous scrap in the first five months of 2021, according to Chinese customs statistics, which was a 2,894% increase from the same period in 2020.Most of the material imported has been higher...Read More
Market terms for copper concentrates reached a 10-year high in April 2021; since then it has only been uphill for sellers.Fastmarkets' calculation of the index for copper concentrates TC/RC, which measures a mid-point for processing fees paid to smelters, hit $42.40 per tonne/ 4.24 cents per lb on July 9, almost double the low set on April 9.Over the weekend, information began to filter throu...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday July 14 that are worth another look.The International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) expects the prospects for global long steel products to remain satisfactory for the rest of 2021 and for 2022.The European Commission adopted on July 14...Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Janie Davies, Cristina Belda and...Read More
Chinese authorities are unlikely to lower barriers to allow more lower-grade scrap to enter the country, panelists said at the Singapore Steel Forum 2021 on Wednesday July 14.China imported 221,409 tonnes of ferrous scrap in the first five months of 2021, according to Chinese customs statistics, which was a 2,894% increase from the same period in 2020.Most of the material imported has been higher...Read More
The European Commission (EC) adopted on Wednesday July 14 a package of proposals under the EU Green deal that affect the metals industry, including a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).The CBAM will apply to imports into the EU of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers and electricity.During a transition period from 2023 to 2025, importers will have to report the emissions embodied...Read More