Base Metal Stock Articles

Samarco resumes pellet production following restart of ops at Ubu site, BHP says

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Samarco has resumed the production of iron ore pellets following a restart of operations at its Ubu complex in Brazil's Esp?-rito Santo state, BHP said on Thursday December 24.This follows a resumption of operations at its Germano complex in Mariana city, in Brazil's southeastern Minas Gerais state earlier this month, which involved the restart of one of three iron...Read More

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 23

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday December 23 that are worth another look.World crude steel production increased by 6.6% year on year in November, with China, Germany and Ukraine posting the largest increases.Chilean state copper producer Codelco has increased the...Read More

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 24

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday December 24 that are worth another look.The United Kingdom and European Union have reached an agreement on a trade deal that will ensure tariff-free trading of most goods between the country and the bloc after December 31 when the withdrawal...Read More

US hot-rolled coil index continues at historic highs

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States continue at record highs, with tags at or above $50 per hundredweight ($1,000 per short ton) - a level last seen during the bull rush of 2008. Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $50 per cwt on Thursday December 24, roughly flat from $50.06 per cwt the day prior and 1.58% higher than $49.22 per cwt the previous w...Read More

Brazilian slab export prices rise as sellers probe new levels

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Brazilian slab export prices rose this past week, when sellers increased offers in an attempt to achieve higher price levels.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel slab, export, fob main port Brazil rose to $670-685 per tonne fob on Thursday December 24, up from $650-670 per tonne fob on Friday December 18.Sellers have been probing...Read More

UK STEEL SCRAP WEEKLY: 5C market consolidates gains ahead of holidays

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

The British light iron market was steady over the week to Wednesday December 23 as trading activity slowed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, with many traders already off work, trade sources told Fastmarkets.Still, with European export markets into key destinations such as Turkey climbing since Friday December 18, it seems likely that UK steel scrap prices will extend their price gains...Read More

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from December 24

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday December 24 that are worth another look.The United Kingdom and European Union have reached an agreement on a trade deal that will ensure tariff-free trading of most goods between the country and the bloc after December 31 when the withdrawal...Read More

IRON ORE DAILY: Prices move up again on decrease in steel inventories

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Iron ore prices began to rise again on Thursday December 24, sources said, supported by falling steel inventories in China. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $166.05 per tonne, up $4.02 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $167.30 per tonne, up $4.94 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $154.25 per tonne, up $2.71 per tonne65% Fe Br...Read More

LIVE FUTURES REPORT 24/12: LME aluminium, zinc and nickel make gains as markets digest stimulus, Brexit news

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

The London Metal Exchange three-month aluminium, nickel and zinc prices all rose by over 1% in morning trading on Thursday December 24, with the market weighing likely deals on US coronavirus relief funds and Brexit against the renewed pandemic spread across Europe. "Metals and broader markets seem to be settling down ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, with dips still being bought, sugg...Read More

COKING COAL DAILY: Premium cfr price rises again after new deals are sealed at higher prices

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

The cfr price for seaborne premium hard coking coal edged up further on Thursday December 24, with new transactions sealed at higher prices. China's ban on Australian coal led to the decline in demand for Australian premium low-volatility hard coking coal, and premium mid-volatility hard coking coal has been sold at a higher price than premium low-vol material in the fob market, sources...Read More

RESEARCH: Stainless prices to follow carbon steel prices higher?

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Prices of stainless steel are generally set to reach highs for the year as 2020 comes to a close. For the most common nickel-containing grades of stainless steel, this upward trend is being driven above all by rising nickel prices, which themselves are hitting relatively high levels into the end of 2020.The price increases si...Read More

Flat steel import prices soar in South America on China's strength

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Import prices for flat-rolled steel products in South America continued their nearly three-month uptrend as Chinese material was presented at higher levels for March 2021 and April 2021 shipments following ongoing domestic strength.Interest from buyers went quiet ahead of the year-end holidays, however, market participants said. Most clients were waiting to see if prices would correct down next mo...Read More

EGYPT STEEL BILLET, REBAR: Prices continue to increase, demand moderate for rebar

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Steel billet and rebar prices have increased again in Egypt in the week to Thursday December 24, with demand for rebar said to be moderate because of restocking, market sources told Fastmarkets.Locally produced billet was sufficient to meet demand from rebar producers, so buyers did not book any import billet.Demand for rebar and billet has been slow in the country since the imposition of a ban on...Read More

PRICING NOTICE: Decision to discontinue China tin premiums

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Fastmarkets will discontinue its tin ingot premiums on a seaborne basis to China from the start of January. The decision follows a month-long market consultation. Market analysis and engagement showed support for the move, with China a major producer but a negligible importer of LME registered tin ingot bands other than in extreme circumstances. The two prices to be discontinued are: MB-SN-0032-Ti...Read More

PRICING NOTICE: Decision to discontinue Japan copper premium

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Fastmarkets has decided to discontinue its copper cathode premium, cif Japan from the start of January. The results of a month-long consultation, market analysis and engagement showed support for the move, with Japan a major producer but a negligible importer of LME registered copper cathode brands. The price to be discontinued is: MB-CU-0385 - copper grade A cathode premium, cif Japan, $ per tonn...Read More

UK, EU reach Brexit deal ensuring tariff-free trade

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

The United Kingdom and European Union have reached an agreement on a trade deal that will ensure tariff-free trading of most goods between the country and the bloc after December 31 when the withdrawal transition period ends, easing metals and minerals market participants' fears of logistics paralysis and material shortages. Following four years of slow negotiations after the 2016 Brexit referendu...Read More

Zinc, lead concentrate TCs stable at low levels in December

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Treatment charges for zinc and lead concentrates cif China were flat in December, while those in the China domestic market fell on low inventories and consistent demand from smelters. Fastmarkets assessed the zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China at $75-90 per tonne. The lead spot concentrate TC,...Read More

MMG to cut output at Las Bambas copper mine in Peru if blockades continue

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Copper production at Las Bambas, one of Peru's largest mines, may need to be cut from this week if a road blockade continues to prevent concentrates reaching Matarani port, parent company MMG said on Thursday December 24.Some supply contracts are already subject to force majeure, including road and rail transportation services, MMG said. Despite being in place intermittently through...Read More

COPPER CONCS SNAPSHOT: TC/RCs rebound to six-month high

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

Spot market copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose by around 5% in the week ending Thursday December 24 with smelters better supplied for the first quarter. The index is now at the highest since July 3. Deals to smelters continued in the high $40s and low $50s for clean qualities, just below the quarterly purchase...Read More

China's CSPT drops quarterly buying guidance for copper concentrate by 8.6%

December 25, 2020 / Staff reporter

China's Copper Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT) has set its first-quarter copper concentrate treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) buying floor at $53 per tonne / 5.3 cents per lb, down from $58 / 5.8 cents for the fourth quarter, sources told Fastmarkets. This comes after annual benchmark TC/RCs, fees paid to smelters for processing concentrates into metal, for 2021 dropped 4% to $59.50 per tonne /...Read More

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