Enabling large-scale expansion of solar power production capacity is a crucial part of the transition to a sustainable future for energy, but its prospects of growth rest on the current and future availability of key minerals and metals. Governments and organizations the world over are busy setting ambitious targets to cut carbon footprints and restrict global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsiu...Read More
Joseph Carrabba, formerly chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cleveland-Cliffs, has been named CEO of ElementUS Minerals, the company has said.Carrabba was at Cleveland-Cliffs, at one point known as Cliffs Natural Resources, from 2005 to 2013. Prior to this, he had spent more than 20 years in executive leadership at Rio Tinto, holding positions in its North American, Australian, Asi...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Fastmarkets analysts were invited to present our outlook for the coking coal market at Coaltrans Asia, held online on November 23-25. One of the key topics at the event was the trade tensions between China and Australia, which overtook Mongolia to become the largest coking coal exporter to China this year...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In the iron ore market, supply issues including heavy rains at the start of the year, followed by staffing problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, have affected exports from Brazil. This has helped Australia gain a larger market share, but since June, Brazilian export volumes have returned to levels last seen before the...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Iron ore remains the most bullish commodity of the year, with prices fuelled by Chinese demand and supply disruptions in Brazil, along with bullish sentiment. But prices are expected to come down because Brazilian exports have begun to recover, and have reached their highest level since the Brumadinho dam disaster in 2019. W...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.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs...Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Dalila Ouerghi and Cristina Belda...Read More
European buyers of hot-rolled coil have been holding back from making deals for material, awaiting the European's Commission decision on import safeguard measures and clarity in the global market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday June 16.Some buyers were still willing to accept current offer prices if they needed to restock specific materials, or if they were able to secure back-to-back deals...Read More
The gap between lithium spot and contract prices has narrowed significantly in 2021 as a result of tight availability along the lithium supply chain and price evolution, market sources said.For example, Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, contract price cif China, Japan & Korea was $12.50-13.50 per kg on May 26, an increase of $1...Read More
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its cobalt hydroxide index as part of its annual methodology review process and compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for price reporting agencies.This consultation, which begins on Wednesday June 16 and will end on July 13, seeks to ensure that our methodologies...Read More
Steel scrap import prices into China remained stable on Wednesday June 16 despite reports of a new transaction for Shindachi busheling from Japan to China.A deal for 3,000 tonnes of Shindachi, the prime scrap grade traded in Japan, was heard at $550 per tonne cfr China. The deal was believed to have been done on Tuesday.There were mixed views about whether there was any price difference between Sh...Read More
Turkish steel mills remained silent in the scrap markets on Wednesday June 16, with market participants mulling the likely direction of price movements.The mills did not book any new cargoes on Wednesday, having agreed two deals the day before at lower prices, marking a potential change in direction for the market, which had become more positive so far in June.One market participant said, however,...Read More
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on its pricing methodology for its Northern Europe and United States hot-rolled coil indices as part of its annual methodology review process in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for price reporting agencies.This consultation, which is open until July 16, 2021, seeks to ensure that our meth...Read More
The Italian steel distributors association, Assofermet, is calling for the complete removal of safeguard measures in Europe to protect steel users and consumers from the effects of the record high prices currently seen in the market. The association demanded the removal of the import controls on 26 steel products after the European Commission proposed extending the current measures for another thr...Read More
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its cobalt hydroxide index as part of its annual methodology review process and compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for price reporting agencies.This consultation, which begins on Wednesday June 16 and will end on July 13, seeks to ensure that our methodologies...Read More
Rio Tinto has announced it will conduct a study into whether hydrogen can replace natural gas in alumina refineries to reduce emissions, it said on June 15.Rio Tinto has partnered with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) for the $1.2 million feasibility study, which will be equally funded with Arena through a $580,000 grant.The study will look into using clean hydrogen to repl...Read More
Tightening supply and strong demand supported China's domestic and imported alloy markets in the week ended Tuesday June 15.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome, spot, 6-8% C, basis 50% Cr, ddp China, narrowed upward by 100 yuan per tonne (0.7%) to 7,600-7,800 yuan ($1,187-1,219) per tonne on Tuesday, from 7,500-7,800 yuan per tonne the previous week.Spot supply has tightened since power...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 16 that are worth another look.European non-integrated steel traders and wire rod processors strongly oppose the European Commission's proposal to extend import safeguard measures for three more years, claiming that the decision neglects the interests of...Read More
Nickel premiums in the United States rose again in the seven days to Tuesday June 15 on the back of continued strikes at Vale's Sudbury mine, while premiums in Asia and Europe remained stable in a week of low liquidity.US briquette premium rises 16.7%, surpassing 20 cents per lb for the first time since 2019 Arbitrage losses continue in China, although spot market quiet due to national holidayEuro...Read More
Deteriorating shipping conditions and a continuing lack of production from the giant Malaysia Smelting Corp pushed Western tin premiums to new peaks in the week to Tuesday June 15.US premiums routinely surpass $3,000 per tonneEuropean traders foresee further rises from MSC, soaring shipping costsCovid-19 pandemic factors into subdued trade in Taiwan.US buyers shocked by premiumsTin premiums in the...Read More