The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Having found it easier to increase prices than their counterparts in Europe and the United States during the past few months, Asian stainless steelmakers now face a number of concerns.In the short term, Asian prices have moved down in recent weeks while those in Europe and the US are on the up. This is mostly a reflection of...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up across the board this morning, Monday February 1, this despite weaker-than-expected manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data out of China over the weekend.But perhaps most noteworthy has been the 8% rally in spot silver that has surpassed $29 per oz to challenge last August’s high.* March tin lower on Shanghai Futures Exc...Read More
Silver iShares (SLV) moved above $25.74 and $27.39 to an eight year high extending an intermediate uptrend. Silver Miners ETF (SIL) moved above $50.00 extending an intermediate uptrend.Pan American Silver (PAAS) moved above $38.69 extending an intermediate uptrend.Hecla Mining (HL) moved above $7.06 to a 10 year high extending an intermediate uptrend.First Majestic Silver (FR.TO AG) moved above Cd...Read More
Swedish steelmakers SSAB no longer plans to acquire the Ijmuiden plant in the Netherlands off of Tata Steel, SSAB said on Friday January 29.Tata Steel initiated discussions with SSAB on the sale of its IJmuiden plant in the Netherlands and related downstream assets in November 2020. After the announcement, market sources said it would have allowed SSAB to increase its presence in Northern Europe.A...Read More
China's Baowu Steel Group, the world's largest steelmaker, is in talks with Shandong Iron & Steel Group Co for a potential merger.While a small segment of the steel market already had some knowledge of this development, particularly after Baowu Steel sent some of its company officials to Shandong Steel to conduct surveys on the topic of a merger, the matter became public after local media reported...Read More
General Motors (GM) plans to transition its entire light-duty vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035, bringing an end to its production of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. The automaker aims to go carbon neutral by 2040.A GM spokesperson told Fastmarkets that the company has set a goal to exclusively produce EVs in its light-duty fleet and discontinue producing internal combustion...Read More
Slab export prices from Brazil were unchanged in the week ended Friday January 29, with consumers cautious due to uncertainty in steel markets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel slab, export, fob main port Brazil remained at $760-780 per tonne fob on Friday.Producers have been trying to sustain offers at $780 per tonne fob in the US market, but buyers are holding back in an attempt to...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) continued to drop toward the end of January as smelters cover cargoes that look to be delayed from Chile and Peru.What you need to know China smelters covering short positions exacerbated by Chile, Peru delays High sea swells are preventing cargoes from leaving some ports in Chile Las Bambas shipments have started to resume A...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Tin's forward price rose by 1.5% in the week ended Friday January 29, while the rest of the base-metals complex on the London Metal Exchange, nickel and zinc in particular, showed lower prices than on Monday.This was blamed on several macro-economic factors turning sentiment downward for metals."With the exception of tin, across the board the base metal suite has come under pressure this week," St...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Europe, Asia and the United States for the week ended Friday January 29.China Sentiment among buyers has been dampened by falling silico-manganese futures prices and a smaller-than-expected increase in Hebei Iron & Steel's February purchase price for alloy, accompanied by a reduction in the tonnage the mill plans to procure.The portside market r...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) continued to drop toward the end of January as smelters cover cargoes that look to be delayed from Chile and Peru.What you need to know China smelters covering short positions exacerbated by Chile, Peru delays High sea swells are preventing cargoes from leaving some ports in Chile Las Bambas shipments have started to resume A...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing sessions in the week to Friday January 29 in China, Europe and the United States.China Spot ferro-silicon prices narrowed upward by 200-300 yuan ($31-46) per tonne amid little liquidity due to a supply shortage, while sentiment strengthened after many mills raised their tender prices for February-delivery ferro-silicon. Hesteel, China's second-largest steel mill,...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
An overview of the aerospace materials markets and their latest price moves.Ewa Manthey and Michael Greenfield in...Read More
Global ferrous scrap prices have yet to hit the buffers in their downward plunge. Buyers in Asia were holding back from purchases in the week ended Friday January 29, swooping in only for low-priced cargoes, but demand from China could support prices in the near term.Turkey re-enters spot marketBearish sentiment in US on lower transaction pricesTaiwan market in rapid descentCovid-19 in Vietnam dam...Read More
Turkish steel producers skipped deep-sea purchases on the last working day of the week, with sentiment still negative due to limited demand for rebar and steel billet, sources said on Friday January 29.The most recent deals were heard late on Wednesday January 27, when two US cargoes were booked, bringing the week's total to three. A steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a cargo from the...Read More
The price range for UK-origin light iron has dropped ?5 ($5.65) per tonne in the week ending Friday January 29 after a fall in European deep-sea export markets to traditional buyers in Turkey in the past couple of weeks weighed on British scrap prices, trade sources said. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK was ?130-145...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were for the most part weaker this morning, Friday January 29, with aluminium bucking the trend on both exchanges and March tin on the SHFE also higher. Asian-Pacific equities and major western pre-market equity index futures were weaker this morningOverall the base metals are looking heavyBase metals Three-month alumini...Read More