The takeaways from the latest edition of the Steel Raw Materials Market Tracker are ready to view.Iron ore prices remained relatively stable last week, signalling an end to the price spike. And for the first time since March, at the time of the Covid-19 lock-down in Hubei, we have seen a consistent downturn in utilization rates in China. Blast furnace utilization rates dropped for a fifth consecut...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In the year 2020 to date in late August, the Fastmarkets 62% Fe iron ore benchmark has powered along and reached six-year highs, supported by Chinese demand, and despite the global economic uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Iron ore demand has weakened almost everywhere except in China, where it has continued to...Read More
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
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view. A look at stainless steel price movements through August reveals the ongoing battle being faced by stainless steelmakers in Europe and the United States while they try to pass on rising costs to consumers. In these regions, prices on most grades of stainless steel are little changed from July, rising by around 2% at most -...Read More
The latest forecast from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.As we enter the summer season across the northern hemisphere, almost half a year has passed since the Covid-19 pandemic began to seriously affect Europe and the United States.One would not really be able to tell that such a dramatic event had occurred by looking at stainless steel prices, however, because they are more or less...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Europe increased further week on week on Wednesday October 7, driven by long lead times from domestic mills and a lack of import offers, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, at ?,?497.50 ($585.83) per tonne on Wednesday, up by ?,?1.04 per tonne from ?,?496.46 per tonne on Oc...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday October 7.Please click...Read More
Brazilian aluminium producer Companhia Brasileira de Alum?-nio (CBA) will continue to seek "green funding" alternatives after securing 500 million Reais ($90 million) this year to develop sustainability projects and offer more low-carbon metal, company executives said on Monday October 5.At the same time, the company was cautious about the recent demand recovery in the domestic market from lows se...Read More
Muted spot activity kept lead and zinc premiums flat globally in the week to Tuesday October 6, while a dip in the London Metal Exchange base price failed to spur any additional buying. US zinc market engaged in annual benchmark talks for 2021. Spot buying in Taiwan was minimal during a short working week; Shanghai market closed for China's Golden Week holiday. Global premiums stagnant i...Read More
Approximately $1.64 billion worth of copper tube and pipe exports from Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia over the past few years could face India's countervailing duty after the government launched an anti-dumping investigation, Fastmarkets understands. Directorate General of Trade Remedies, under India's commerce ministry, received a complaint from industry body Bombay Metal Exchange (BME) that a si...Read More
Fastmarkets opened a consultation on September 4, 2020, inviting feedback on its non-ferrous methodology in line with our annual methodology review process. The consultation sought to ensure that our methodology continues to reflect the physical market in base metals, minor metals, ores and alloys. This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication fre...Read More
Brazilian vehicle production fell by 11% in September 2020 compared with the corresponding month a year before, with producers increasing supply from April lows at a slow pace in order to prevent inventories from rising too much, carmakers' association Anfavea said on Wednesday October 7.The country made 220,162 vehicles last month, down from 247,455 units reported in September 2019. But output wa...Read More
Demand for steel billet in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region early in the week that began on Monday October 5 supported billet sellers in the CIS region, which have been faced with a lack of trading activity in most outlets recently.Customers in the Middle East-North Africa (Mena) region and Asia have adopted a wait-and-see position over the past seven days amid uncertainty about the price...Read More
Hollow steel sections prices in Europe moved up further this week while mills continue to pass on higher feedstock costs, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?590-620 per tonne ($695-730) on Wednesday, up from ?,?580-590 per tonne one week previous.The price of hot-rolled coil, t...Read More
The low end of the steel H-beam price ranges in Europe moved up this week on positive producer sentiment after recent price increase announcements, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?540-570 per tonne ($636-671) on Wednesday, narrowing on the low end from ?,?530-570 per tonne one wee...Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Europe were largely rangebound in the week to Wednesday October 7, with market participants saying they believe prices have reached a top in both the north and south of the region.Northern Europe Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?470-480 ($553-565) per tonne on Wednesday, widening d...Read More
With less than one month remaining before the presidential election in the United States, Fastmarkets takes a look at how the two main candidates' platforms could affect the mineral markets.On November 3, the US will go to the polls to choose between incumbent President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden. Both candidates have proposed a number of new policies which could shake up the mineral ma...Read More
Turkish steel mills continued to stay away from deep-sea scrap purchasing due to the weak domestic steel market, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 7.The country's steelmakers had booked three deep-sea cargoes at the end of last week, putting the HMS 1&2 (80:20) price at $284 per tonne cfr for European material and at $289 per tonne cfr for Baltic Sea-origin scrap.The previous Balt...Read More
A major fire involving about 20,000 tonnes of steel scrap at Sims UK's main export facilityin the west of England is expected to have a significant impact on shipments to key destinations, including Turkey. Sims UK did not reveal how much scrap was damaged or gave details as to the grade of material affected by the blaze at its Avonmouth dock facilities in southwest England, but a spokesman f...Read More
Prices for exported steel scrap cargoes from Japan were largely unchanged over the past week amid holidays in South Korea and Taiwan, together with the upcoming Kanto Tetsugen auction. Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel scrap H2, export, fob main port Japan was ?27,000-28,000 ($256-265) per tonne on Wednesday October 7, unchanged week on week. Offers were largely flat at ?28,000-28,500...Read More