Fastmarkets' Ferrous Analytics report helps subscribers keep track of hot metal costs and steel production spreads in China, along with key pricing components of the steelmaking raw materials supply chain in Asia.Read More
Exports of finished steel from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) rose by 20.4% year-on-year in January-June 2021 amid rising demand in both Asia and Europe, according to the latest statistics from the South East Asia Iron & Steel Institute (Seaisi).Both long and flat steel exports flourished in the first half of the year, against a backdrop of rising prices and improved demand in...Read More
Base metals futures on the London Metal Exchange were largely lower at the 5pm close on Wednesday November 17, succumbing to a strong US dollar index and other headwinds.The US dollar index remained at its highest since July 2020, touching 96.27 during early trading before stepping back to 95.83 at the close."It seems that the upside momentum has stalled in several markets over the last 24 ho...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday November 17 that are worth another look.Regional cooperation, public planning and funding capacity for new technologies will be key for the Latin American steel industry to deliver reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the long term, top executives and experts...Read More
Domestic stainless steel prices in China maintained their downward trend for the week ended Wednesday November 17 due to soft demand.DomesticStainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 18,800-19,000 ($2,942-2,974) per tonne, down by 500 yuan per tonne from a week earlier.Downstream industries performed poorly, leading to lower stainless steel demand.Market sentiment became bear...Read More
Chinese metals production and processing group Daye Nonferrous will postpone the start of operations at its new double-flash copper smelter for six months because of a lack of essential buiding components that have been sourced from overseas, Fastmarkets has learnt.The 400,000 tonnes per year project in Huangshi, close to Wuhan, was scheduled to come online by the end of this year, but commissioni...Read More
Prices in the United States for domestic and imported low-carbon, high-carbon and cold-heading quality wire rod reached new highs in November, toppling records set last month.Fastmarkets' monthly assessment for steel wire rod (low carbon) industrial quality, fob mill US was at $63-67 per hundredweight ($1,260-1,340 per short ton) on Tuesday November 16, up by 6.56% from $59.50-62.50 per cwt o...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday November 17.Key drivers European ferro-titanium spot prices were unchanged for the fifth week in a row after a tender for annual delivery in 2022 from Korean steel major Posco was settled in the current spot price range, according to sources. There were no reported spot trades over the week to Wednesday November 17. Ferro-titanium s...Read More
Tight supply and steep backwardation on London Metals Exchange continued to support European premiums while China premiums retreated slightly amid increased arbitrage loss, and US premiums were stable in the week to November 16, Fastmarkets learned.European premiums strong while long term contact negotiations for 2022 ongoingChina premiums slid amid increased arbitrage lossUS premiums unchanged wi...Read More
MineHub Technologies Inc has launched an application to digitalize and streamline the assay exchange process between buyer, seller and laboratories in base metal concentrates transactions, the blockchain technology platform said.The application, known as MineHub Assay Exchange, is the first in a series of network applications for concentrates that the company intends to roll out over the next mont...Read More
MineHub Technologies Inc has launched an application to digitalize and streamline the assay exchange process between buyer, seller and laboratories in base metal concentrates transactions, the blockchain technology platform said.The application, known as MineHub Assay Exchange, is the first in a series of network applications for concentrates that the company intends to roll out over the next mont...Read More
Prices for steel scrap imported into China tumbled on Tuesday November 16 after Chinese mills lowered domestic scrap purchase prices further, market sources said. Continued drop in China's domestic scrap buy prices pressures import appetite.Taiwanese buyers bid lower.ChinaSpot prices for steel scrap imported into China weakened further on Tuesday amid bearish sentiment in the domestic scrap market...Read More
The export market for steel slab from the Commonwealth of Independent States remained quiet in the week to Monday November 15, with a various trends in different customer markets driving a lack of clarity.In the Asian region, weakening flat steel prices in China's domestic markethad a strong negative effect on other regional markets.The release of rather grim economic and property data by Chi...Read More
Spot prices for hot-rolled coil in China edged higher on Tuesday November 16, thanks to a short-lived rebound in futures prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,720-4,750 yuan ($740-745) per tonne, narrowing up by 20 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed to an intraday high of 4,527 yuan per tonne on Tuesday, before reversing to register the third day...Read More
General Motors (GM) plans to extend its control of the midstream processing chain in the next 18 months while it gets battery plants in the United States up and running, a senior company executive at the automotive manufacturer said.This is also part of a push by the automaker to create a greener supply chain via reduced movement of materials around the world, GM manager of energy environment and...Read More
Although ferro-alloy prices have sharply climbed, steelmakers are unlikely to reduce their consumption of these raw materials given the small share of steel production costs it accounts for and the likelihood that prices will move down in the near-term, panelists said on Monday November 16 during Fastmarkets' International Ferro-alloys Conference.During the session titled "Steel Mill Panel Discuss...Read More
The export market for steel slab from the Commonwealth of Independent States remained quiet in the week to Monday November 15, with a various trends in different customer markets driving a lack of clarity.In the Asian region, weakening flat steel prices in China's domestic markethad a strong negative effect on other regional markets.The release of rather grim economic and property data by Chi...Read More
The latest analysis from recent activity on the CME Group's cobalt metal futures contract, cash-settled against Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt, standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam.Key tradesOctober 8: 90 tonnes (15 tonnes each month between January to June 2022, all at $26.75 per lb)October 14: 5 tonnes for December 2021 at $26.85 per lbOctober 15: 65 tonnes (5 tonnes for November 2021 at $...Read More
Copper and aluminium London Metal Exchange prices closed lower on Tuesday November 16, with a stronger dollar pushing prices down.The aluminium three-month price closed at $2,574 per tonne on Tuesday, down from $2,657 per tonne at Monday's close.Market participants attributed the fall to a strong dollar, which makes buying metals using other currencies expensive and pushes demand...Read More
Chinese lithium-ion battery cathode materials producer Beijing Easpring Material Technology has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SK Inc to develop cathode materials production projects in Europe, Asia and the United States, the company said on Monday November 15.Under the agreement, SK will invest in Easpring's Finnish joint venture with an equity ratio of no more than 30% to develop...Read More