Base Metal Stock Articles

FOCUS: EU steel coil buyers struggle to obtain credit after 'freakish' price hikes, 'crazy' lead times

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

European buyers of steel coil are encountering difficulties obtaining credit insurance and opening credit lines for purchases because of the rapid price rises and extended lead times in recent months, sources told Fastmarkets this week.Market participants said the situation was limiting the ability of buyers to acquire required volumes, despite strong demand from both distributors and end consumer...Read More

EUROPE HRC: Material shortage, high demand drive up domestic prices

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) in Europe continued to rise on Friday April 23, due to a persistent shortage of locally produced material, limited and costly overseas alternatives and strong demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe at ?,?971.25 ($1,168.26) per tonne on April 23, up by ?,?6.25 per tonne fr...Read More

CIS STEEL BILLET: Return of Latin America, Asia demand supports market

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Prices in the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) export billet market remained firm over the week to April 23 due to the recovery of demand from market participants in Latin America and Asia, sources said.CIS mills continued to ask for a minimum of $600 per tonne fob Black Sea for June-shipment material, sources said.At least one cargo was heard sold to Latin America, with market participan...Read More

CMC Zawiercie likely to commission third rolling-line in Q2 - sources

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

A Polish subsidiary of US steelmaker Commercial Metals Company (CMC) is likely to commission a new wire rod mill in the second quarter 2021, several sources told Fastmarkets on April 23.Sources that spoke to Fastmarkets expect CMC's long products facility in Zawiercie, Poland to commission a new 200,000-tonne-per-year capacity wire rod facility during the second quarter of 2021."CMC Zawierice will...Read More

NEW ENERGY MATERIALS MARKET REPORT 23/04: Cobalt metal prices dip, demand still weak

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Susan Zou and Sybil Pan...Read More

US PIG IRON: Market trends higher on strong demand

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

The pig iron import market in the United States increased further during the week to Friday April 23 amid strong demand.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US was $575-585 per tonne on Friday, up by $5 per tonne from $570-580 per...Read More

UK STEEL SCRAP WEEKLY: Firm fundamentals push light iron market upward

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

The range for British domestic prices for grade-5C steel scrap widened in the week ended Friday April 23 on firm demand both at home and in export outlet regions, sources have told Fastmarkets.The demand for light iron scrap came from major scrap processors in the country, a steady rate of exports to key destinations such as Turkey and the Indian subcontinent, and short sea sales into Europe, they...Read More

SOUTH ASIA STEEL SCRAP: Coronavirus hits Indian market, material diverts to Pakistan

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Prices for shredded steel scrap imported into the South Asia region inched downward on Friday April 23, with the rise in new cases of coronavirus infection bringing trading to a halt in India, and material being redirected to Pakistan, sources told Fastmarkets.IndiaFastmarkets calculated its steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India, at $456.50 per tonne on Friday, compared with...Read More

CIS PIG IRON: Price up again on further sales to Italy and Turkey

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Pig iron export prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States went up again during the week to Thursday April 22 in new sales to Italy and Turkey, but once again no spot sales were reported to the United States.Fastmarkets' price assessment for high-manganese pig iron, export, fob main port Black Sea, CIS, was $550-558 per tonne on Thursday, up from $535-550 per tonne one week earlier.A sale...Read More

SHFE STOCKS REPORT 23/04: All base metals inventories fall; nickel slumps 10%

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Deliverable stocks of base metals in Shanghai Futures Exchange-registered warehouses all declined in the week to Friday April 23, due to consumers trucking their cargoes out before the Labour Day holiday in China, sources said.SHFE nickel stocks totaled 8,560 tonnes this week, down by 994 tonnes or 10.4% from 9,554 tonnes last Friday, data shows.The largest outflow of nickel this week left Zhongch...Read More

IRON ORE DAILY: Prices up on liquidity recovery in seaborne market

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Iron ore prices increased on Friday April 23 on support from better liquidity in the seaborne market, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $186.25 per tonne, up $2.63 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $187.51 per tonne, up $2.13 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $162.88 per tonne, up $3.50 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Q...Read More

LIVE FUTURES REPORT 23/04: LME aluminium above $2,380/t; copper up 1%

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

A lower United States dollar index propelled aluminium's price to new highs during morning trading on the London Metal Exchange on Friday April 23, while copper continued its climb higher and other metals remained within their recent ranges.Aluminium's three-month price reached $2,389 per tonne during early trading on Friday. The light metal opened at $2,386 per tonne, $23 per tonne higher than Th...Read More

MORNING VIEW: Base metals tread water, broader markets more jittery

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

The base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed this morning, Friday April 23, as were the wider markets while US President Joe Biden prepares to announce his plans on tax.Markets awaiting direction from purchasing managers' index (PMI) dataBase metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed, but on average were up by 0.4% this morning, with le...Read More

LIVE FUTURES REPORT 22/04: Aluminium reaches $2,375/t, highest since April 2018, but closes flat day on day [CORRECTED]

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

LME aluminium's three-month price surpassed its May 2018 high in intraday trading on Thursday April 22, with lead's price up by 1.3%, while nickel and copper retreated from their Wednesday prices at the close.Aluminium's price reached $2,375 per tonne on Thursday, taking out the May 2018 high of $2,374.50 per tonne to stand at a level last seen in April 2018, when the metal's highest intraday pric...Read More

COBALT SNAPSHOT: Absence of Chinese buyers pushes metal prices lower

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

Key data from pricing session in London on Friday April 23. Key data from pricing session in London on Friday April 23.Key drivers:  Aggressive offers below $21 per lb seen in the market, although deals at higher levels are...Read More

SPECIALTY STEEL RAW MATERIALS MARKET REPORT 23/04: Manganese flake falls on weak China shipment offers

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price moves.Charlotte Radford, Cristina Belda...Read More

Trade log: Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

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...Read More

Trade log: Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

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...Read More

Trade log: Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end)

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

Trade log: Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne

April 24, 2021 / Staff reporter

The Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne 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 sulfate 20.5% Co...Read More

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