Junior miner Lithium Americas has commenced development planning for a second-stage expansion of lithium production capacity at the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project in Argentina, it said on Friday May 28.The Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project is situated in the Jujuy province of Argentina and the mine is being developed alongside Chinese lithium major Ganfeng Lithium. Ganfeng Lithium owns a 51% stake...Read More
The markets for the lithium complex in Asia were mostly steady over the week ended Thursday May 27, except for the domestic Chinese market for lithium carbonate, which was under pressure due to rising supply and weaker demand.Lithium carbonate prices in China soften on increasing supply and weakening demandSeaborne Asian lithium complex steady amid persistent tight supplyEurope, US spot lithium co...Read More
Canadian steelmaker Stelco has agreed with a German battery recycling specialist, Primobius, to work toward creating a lithium-ion battery recycling venture, initially hoped to recycle 20,000 tonnes per year of batteries.The pair "would actively plan for an expanded capacity operation," under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced on Thursday May 27 by Primobius's Australian co-owner, Neome...Read More
Prices for flat-rolled steel imports into South America mostly decreased in the week to Friday May 28 due to a significant absence of Chinese material in the market, with negotiations starting to shift to August shipment, overall lower offers, and a cautious stance among customers.This was the first time since February 5 this year that the majority of import prices on the continent fell on a weekl...Read More
Flat steel buyers and sellers in Turkey are questioning what will happen in global markets in the coming week, after the country's imported flat steel prices decreased in the week to Friday May 28 but local producers were firm on prices.Price changes in China were behind the uncertainty.Hot-rolled coil prices from China started decreasing on May 12 due to the government's call for stable comm...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in China's domestic market rose again on Friday May 28, following a rally in the futures market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,400-5,500 yuan ($848-864) per tonne, up by 150-180 yuan per tonne.Northern China (Tangshan): weekly assessment: 5,350-5,380 yuan per tonne, down by 250-270 yuan per tonne.The most-traded HRC October contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange reac...Read More
Indian domestic secondary billet prices edged up in the week to Friday May 28, even as finished steel prices began to fall.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel billet domestic, ex-works India was 41,400-41,600 rupees ($565-572) per tonne on Friday, up 300 rupees from last week's 41,100-41,300 rupees per tonne ex-works. "Billet prices have only increased because...Read More
Steel wire rod prices in Poland were largely flat over the past seven days after a massive increase in the previous week, but market sources believed that new price rises were likely because of the shortness of supply, Fastmarkets heard on Friday May 28.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (drawing quality), domestic, delivered Poland, was 3,650-3,700 zloty ($990-1,004) per tonn...Read More
Domestic prices for rebar in Poland were largely unchanged but still high in the week to Friday May 28, supported by strong demand, limited supply and increased scrap costs, although some sources told Fastmarkets that they believed prices had reached a ceiling.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, exw Poland, was 3,650-3,700 zloty ($990-1,004) per tonne...Read More
Global steel scrap prices dropped in the week to Friday May 28 on poor sentiment resulting from a weaker Chinese market and a softening of the Turkish market.Turkey reports latest trades at lower pricesUS East Coast sees trades to TurkeyVietnamese market affected by weaker Chinese sentimentChinese prices remain down despite improving futuresTaiwan prices lower on soft buying interestIndian buyers...Read More
Prices for shredded steel scrap imported into India and Pakistan moved down after there was further weakening on the Turkish scrap market and in Chinese futures, Fastmarkets heard on Friday May 28.Fastmarkets' steel scrap shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India, was $495.42 per tonne on May 28, down from $510.93 per tonne on May 25 and from $517.88 per tonne on May 21.Indian buyers showed...Read More
Fastmarkets' copper concentrate treatment charge/refining charge (TC/RC) index rose to above $30/3 cents for the first time since March. Fastmarkets' copper concentrate TC index, cif Asia Pacfic was at $30.10 per tonne/3.01 cents per lb on Friday May 28,its highest level since March 5. Spot activity was limited for the week ended May 28, with smelters looking for $40/4...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions in Europe, India, the United States and China on Friday May 28.China The markets for seaborne low- and high-grade manganese ore were quiet oer the week to Friday while buyers awaited a new round of offers from miners in the coming week. Portside low- and high-grade manganese ore prices were little changed, with buyers showing increased appetite for high-...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions in Europe, the United States and China on Friday May 28.China The China ferro-silicon price narrowed downward slightly following a correction of the previous price rally, but the general sentiment remained positive amid Ningxia's production cuts related to the dual control of energy consumption, with suppliers' offers broadly holding firm. The China ferr...Read More
Key data from the pricing session in London on Friday May 28.Key drivers:Some market participants reported that last week's price rise was fueling a larger number of inquiries this week. Others contend that cobalt remains available below the range, causing...Read More
Prices for inter-merchant light iron scrap in the UK were steady over the week ended Friday May 28, consolidating firm gains from the previous week that hit a nine-year peak, with increases possible in talks due next week between suppliers and steel mills, trade sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK,...Read More
Brazilian steel slab export prices fell slightly week on week on Friday May 28 amid a pause in negotiations for shipments to the United States and lower indications for other regions.Fastmarkets assessed the price for steel slab export, fob main port Brazil at $970-990 per tonne on Friday, widening downward from $980-990 per tonne on May 21.With July-shipment deals to the US done in the previous w...Read More
A rise in Chinese ferrous prices has reduced the number of billet cargoes offered into Asian markets on Friday May 28.Comments by the Chinese government made in an attempt to cool commodity prices led to falls in ferrous contracts on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, creating a sharp drop in steel billet import bids in the country. Bids for standard 5sp billet were heard at $650-660 per tonne cf...Read More
China's domestic rebar price rebounded on Friday May 28 following futures gains, encouraging buyers to return to the market. Spot market sellers followed suit.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 4,830-4,860 yuan ($758-763) per tonne, up by 120 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing) weekly assessment: 5,000-5,030 yuan per tonne, down by 400-420 yuan per tonne Some buyers increased their pro...Read More
The price range for flat-rolled stainless steel in Europe narrowed upwards this week, reflecting a continued shortage of supply that is likely to become more pronounced with the introduction of anti-dumping duties on material from India and Indonesia. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm grade 304, transaction domestic, delivered North Europe was ?,?3,150...Read More