Daily PDFs will be downloadable until Monday May 31. After that, because of the UK's Spring bank holiday, the next daily PDF will be downloadable on Wednesday June 2.Read More
Turkish steel producers resumed their deep-sea scrap bookings when buying a US-origin cargo at a lower price than in other recent deals, market participants told Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 26.A Turkish steelmaker booked the US cargo, consisting of 44,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (95:5) at $515 per tonne cfr.The most recent deep-sea transactions were done at the end of last week.A steel mill in the Iske...Read More
Chinese importers of steel scrap showed low buying interest in foreign cargoes during the week to Wednesday May 26 amid sharp declines in Chinese finished steel prices, with their bids much lower than offers.Bids for steel scrap were heard as low as $500 per tonne cfr northern China, which is equivalent to around $490 per tonne cfr eastern China, with buying interest dropping after finished steel...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Wednesday May 26 as a result of heavy rain in some eastern regions of the country negatively affecting demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,820-4,840 yuan ($754-757) per tonne, down by 80 yuan per tonneHeavy rain in the eastern Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi led to reduced consumption of rebar at construction sites and disrupted tra...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices slid further on Wednesday May 26 in both domestic and export markets amid lower market activity.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,170-5,220 yuan ($809-816) per tonne, down by 220-260 yuan per tonneHRC stockists were active in selling material from their warehouses to get capital flow for month-end payment and to avoid losing more money on further possible price dro...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange rose slightly across the board during morning trading on Wednesday May 26 and appear to be consolidating after recent sharp declines from the highs reached in May while the end of the month nears."[Futures prices on the LME] seem to be doing nothing more than seeking direction amid a flood of various opinions as to where prices should go," Malcom Fre...Read More
Quiet spot trade, apart from in China's nickel briquette market, left nickel premiums flat worldwide in the week to Tuesday May 25, sources told Fastmarkets.Poor arbitrage offsets optimism in China's nickel market over Glencore's briquette listing on SHFE.US premiums hold although higher briquette premiums become more common.European nickel stocks subside but premiums are unmoved.Full-plate premiu...Read More
Base metals prices on the LME and SHFE were mixed - albeit with a slight upward bias - this morning, Wednesday May 26. But the rebounds seem half-hearted, with some erring on the side of caution judging by the lower treasury yields and stronger gold price. While the United States Federal Reserve generally seems to be remaining dovish, the vice chair, Richard Clarida, spoke of a "soft landing"........Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade 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 standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb at 20.00-20.50 on Wednesday May...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...Read More
The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) trade 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 hydroxide p...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday May 26. Key driversEuropean ferro-titanium suppliers dropped their offer prices and concluded deals at lower numbers, both on a spot and longer-term basis.Most domestic third-quarter delivery settlements to steelmakers have yet to be negotiated, with the full return of consumers for their...Read More
The UK government has announced ?166 million funding to drive forward development of green technology and development as part of its Green Industrial Revolution, with UK steelmakers set to receive cash.The funding package will benefit energy-intensive businesses such as steelmaking and manufacturing and falls under the UK Prime Minister's 10 Point Plan for a green revolution, which includes remov...Read More
Market participants expect long-term support for aluminium scrap prices in Europe following growing demand for low-carbon aluminium. According to the European Union's taxonomy for sustainable activities, which serves as a guide to direct investment for sustainable projects, there are fewer criteria to be met for the manufacturing of secondary aluminium to be considered a sustainable project. "All...Read More
Prices for steel hollow sections in Europe increased again on Wednesday May 26, with mills continuing to cite higher feedstock costs for raised prices, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?1,250-1,320 ($1,530-1,616) per tonne on May 26, up from ?,?1,220-1,250 per tonne on May 19. Fastmarkets' weekly pri...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed during the morning of Thursday May 27, as were broader markets – are these pauses, or early signs of a stall?* More US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members seem to be getting off the fence about talking about tapering* Chinese yuan continues to strengthen, is China using the yuan to reduce inflati...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 8 points in pre-opening trade.U.S. equity index futures were quiet prior to release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for April Durable Goods Orders was an increase of 0.7% versus a gain of 1.0% in March. Excluding Transportation Orders, consensus for April Durable Goods Orders was an increase of 0.7% versus...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday May 25 that are worth another look.Exports of iron ore from India's east coast could face minor disruptions after the key port of Paradip in the state of Odisha suspended operations on May 25...Read More
Aluminium premiums remained high across the globe in the week ended Tuesday May 25 due to tight supply and high logistics costs.Rotterdam premiums well supportedUS Midwest premium remains at all-time highOpen arb pushes Shanghai premiums upwardMJP focused on third quarterLME contango supports Rotterdam premiumsAluminium premiums in Europe remained well supported this week with offer levels continu...Read More