Base metals production in Peru increased significantly year-on-year during May due to the strong effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but figures were also up on a monthly basis on better performances by the largest mines, the country's ministry of energy and mines, Minem, said on Friday July 2.Copper output totaled 195,999 tonnes in May, up by 52.63% from 128,412 tonnes in the corresponding...Read More
Nearby lead spreads are again in backwardation, with the metal's futures continuing to trade at a discount to cash prices on the London Metal Exchange on July 5.The LME's cash-three month spread is currently backwardated at $19 per tonne although cash-July and cash-August remain in small contangos.The LME three-month lead price has gained $12 from Friday's 5pm close to $2,312 per tonne."It's causi...Read More
Kalidas Madhavpeddi has been appointed as the new chairman at Glencore, the commodities company announced on Monday July 5.Madhavpeddi will take over from retiring chairman Tony Hayward on July 30. Currently non-executive director of Novagold Resources Inc, Trilogy Metals Inc and Dundee Precious Metals Inc, Madhavpeddi has more than 40 years of experience in the international mining...Read More
CIS export billet prices fell on Monday July 5, with customers pushing for lower rates because Russian mills are now looking to sell volumes ahead the introduction of an export duty in August.On Friday June 25 the Russian government approved a temporary export duties on 340 steel and non-ferrous metals sold outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The duties will apply from August 1 through to...Read More
Pakistan's government has removed some duties on imports of hot-rolled and stainless flat steel in its annual budget for 2021-2022, the Karachi Iron & Steel Merchants Association told Fastmarkets on Monday, July 5.The government made the announcement in its latest official budget statement, having suggested that it was a possibility on June 11.The annual budget was approved on June 29, and came in...Read More
Russia-origin aluminium will carry an export duty of 15% with a minimum rate of $254 per tonne from August 1 until December 31 this year, according to the Russian government.Export duties have been approved on 340 non-ferrous and steel products, after Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an official decree on Friday June 25.Primary aluminium, under harmonized system code 760110, will al...Read More
Iron ore prices were up on Monday July 5 with market sentiment improving because of the easing of restrictions in China's steelmaking hub of Tangshan, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.82 per tonne, up by $3.84 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $223.14 per tonne, up by $3.57 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $184...Read More
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix) US material import, cfr main port Taiwan, $/tonne (MB-STE-0464), via an open consultation process between June 1 and July 1, 2021.This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process. No feedback was received during the consultation period and therefore no...Read More
Tina Litzinger has been appointed as Vale's head of nickel sales west.Litzinger will be responsible for the company's sales of nickel and cobalt...Read More
Limited spot trade for rebar imports into Singapore kept prices unchanged during the week to Monday July 5, sources told Fastmarkets.Two major Indian steel mills raised their offer prices to $750-760 per tonne cfr Singapore on a theoretical weight basis, up by $5-10 per tonne week on week. But this did not mean that spot prices had increased, according to sources."Demand for imported material is e...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices increased on Monday July 5 amid higher trading activity and stronger futures prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,870-4,900 yuan ($754-759) per tonne, up by 40 yuan per tonneMarket participants expect steel production to drop in the second half of this year to meet a target set late last year by the Chinese Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT).Th...Read More
Domestic prices for steel rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow were largely stable in the week to Monday July 5, aided by solid demand from construction.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was 72,500-75,000 ($990-1,024) roubles per tonne on Monday, including 20% value-added tax, unchanged from last week.High const...Read More
Stainless steel prices continue to register new highs around the end of the first half of 2021 and steelmakers continue to enjoy outsized margins.They have responded in recent months by increasing their output, which has now pushed above pre-pandemic levels and will eventually restore balance to the market.For now, though, supply gaps are still being filled and buyers find themselves competing aga...Read More
Gunnar Groebler has taken over the position of chairman of the executive board and chief executive officer of German steelmaker Salzgitter, the company said on July 1.He replaces Heinz J??rg Fuhrmannm, who has retired.Groebler intends to further the development of Salzgitter as a future-oriented steel and technology group, with a focus on the company's...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, apart from those for lead, were up during morning trading on Tuesday July 6. Those on the London Metal Exchange were mixed, but that was after a generally positive day on Monday.Brent crude oil climbs after Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries fail to agree a production increase.Base metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed t...Read More
Tantalum concentrate continues to gain price support amid pressing demand for consumer electronics goods and the global extent of shipping delays, which have incentivized primary tantalum producers in Central Africa to raise their output over the past month, Fastmarkets heard on Monday July 5.Fastmarkets assessed the price of tantalite, basis 25% min Ta2O5, cif China, at $87-90 per lb on June 2, i...Read More
Turkish deep-sea scrap import markets were quiet on Monday July 5 with mills reluctant to buy scrap amid limited finished steel demand, while suppliers kept offers firm, market sources told Fastmarkets.Steel producers in Turkey booked four deep-sea cargoes last week, three of which were booked by a single steel mill.The most recent deep-sea transaction put the heavy melting scrap 1&2 (80:20) price...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices increased on Monday July 5 amid higher trading activity and stronger futures prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,870-4,900 yuan ($754-759) per tonne, up by 40 yuan per tonneMarket participants expect steel production to drop in the second half of this year to meet a target set late last year by the Chinese Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT).Th...Read More
European buyers were insisting on lower domestic prices for hot-rolled coil although the availability of the material remained short, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 5.Buyers were reluctant to continue paying high prices for coil, and have been limiting their purchases in terms of both number and volumes, market sources said.Long lead times from domestic producers, sufficient stocks among...Read More
Base metals price movements on the London Metal Exchange were mixed during trading on Monday July 5, with copper and tin making the best showings among the complex.Copper's three-month price rallied upward by more than $130 per tonne during Monday's trading, to $9,511 per tonne at the 5pm close, from $9,376.50 per tonne on Friday, despite only 12,404 lots being traded during the day.While the stro...Read More