Nickel, a key raw material in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs), has gradually grown its market share amid a global shift away from fossil fuels.But with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries making a comeback in the EV market in China, a shadow is being cast on the growth potential for nickel consumption in 2022.The stainless steel market, which accounts for approximately 90%...Read More
A summary of the financial results for Austrian steelmaking group Voestalpine for July-September 2021, the second quarter of the company's business year.In briefA favorable economic environment in all key markets, together with Voestalpine's efforts to reduce costs and focus on efficiency, led to strong revenue in the quarter, with a particularly good performance by the company's Steel Division.Th...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
Mining and metals companies say they're serious about transitioning to a sustainable economy, but whether they can afford to is another matter.Achieving decarbonization throughout the supply chain is going to require a huge amount of investment in technology to reimagine production processes and redesign existing sites.Last week, the International Aluminium Institute estimated that to decarbonize...Read More
The gap between spot prices for ferro-chrome in China and major stainless steel mills' November tender prices narrowed in the past week, with the former sliding further on destocking pressure while contract buyers showed more willingness to pay more to secure their feedstock.Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group (Tisco) and the Baosteel Group both raised their November tender prices for high-carbon ferro-chr...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures advanced 11 points in pre-opening trade. Johnson & Johnson added $1.21 to $164.27 after the company announced a split in operations into two separate entities. Nvidia dropped $3.90 to $300.00 after Wedbush downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral.Hewlett Packard Enterprises fell 40.74 to $15.20 after Goldman Sachs d...Read More
Some Chinese steelmakers are refusing to deliver January-contracted steel cargoes bound for Shanghai Futures Exchange warehouses to stem falling prices.Some steel mills in northern China said on Wednesday November 10 they will not deliver cargoes for January futures positions because their prices are too low compared with spot physical prices.The most-traded January rebar futures contract closed a...Read More
Nickel, a key raw material in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs), has gradually grown its market share amid a global shift away from fossil fuels.But with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries making a comeback in the EV market in China, a shadow is being cast on the growth potential for nickel consumption in 2022.The stainless steel market, which accounts for approximately 90%...Read More
A massive backlog of copper cargoes across Africa - ranging from concentrates and intermediates to refined copper - is putting a massive strain on the spot market supply chain and its impact is spilling over into contractual talks for 2022."My blister copper cargo from Africa should have departed in late July. I kept refreshing the schedule status, but there is nothing new. Our Chinese client is v...Read More
China's output and sales of automobiles continued their year-on-year decline in October due to the continuing semiconductor chip shortage, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in its monthly report published on Wednesday November 10.Automobile output and sales in the country dropped by 8.8% and 9.4% year on year respectively, both to 2.33 million units in October, CAAM dat...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 11 that are worth another look.The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on November 11....Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 11 that are worth another look.The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on November 11....Read More
China's output and sales of automobiles continued their year-on-year decline in October due to the continuing semiconductor chip shortage, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in its monthly report published on Wednesday November 10.Automobile output and sales in the country dropped by 8.8% and 9.4% year on year respectively, both to 2.33 million units in October, CAAM dat...Read More
Johnson Matthey (JM) is pursuing the sale of all or parts of its battery materials division following a detailed review.This reflects the high capital intensity of those operations in the face of competition from more established large-scale, low-cost producers, the UK-based specialty chemical and sustainable technologies company said in a press release on Thursday November 11.Growth in demand for...Read More
European hot-rolled coil prices were stable to slightly lower on Thursday November 11, on subdued activity, but producers hope to achieve higher prices in the first quarter of 2022, sources told Fastmarkets.Trading activity was slow, with buyers refraining from making purchases and instead assessing the situation. Producers, meanwhile, were looking to achieve higher prices for the first quarter of...Read More
(Updates prices) By Eric Onstad LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Copper prices rebounded onThursday after debt-burdened China Evergrande Group again dodgeda default, raising hopes of government support for a propertysector that can drive significant demand for metals.Several of developer Evergrande's bondholders had receivedinterest payments on three bond tranches worth more than $148million, reports sa...Read More
Prices for low-carbon ferro-chrome continued to rise strongly in the week to Wednesday November 10, with the market still undersupplied and prices reaching a new record high since collapsing in November 2008.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome 0.10% C, average 65-70% Cr, delivered Europe, was $3.80-4.09 per lb Cr on November 9, up by 34-37 cents from $3.43-3.75 per lb Cr two weeks earli...Read More
Focusing on the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals could be a "better framework" to capture the overlap between the environmental, societal and governmental aspects that mining companies have to consider in their moves toward sustainability, the chief executive officer of International Council of Mining and Metals Rohitesh Dhawan said on November 10. Speaking at the UN's COP26 meetin...Read More
Chile plans to invest $68.93 billion in 51 different mining projects during the years 2021-30, a 6.92% decrease from the $74.05 billion previously expected for 2020-29, national copper commission Cochilco said on Monday November 8.The largest capital expenditures on the list were a $5.57-billion copper reserve replacement at Codelco's El Teniente division, a $5.20-billion copper mining expansion t...Read More
Nickel premiums rose in Europe and the United States in the week ended November 10 due to tight supply conditions pushing premiums and spot activity higher; China retreated slightly amid an increased arbitrage loss.US nickel premiums continue to rise to historic highsPremiums in Europe rise to highest level in 2021Chinese premiums retreat slightly with arbitrage loss between London and ShanghaiEur...Read More