After struggling throughout 2019 amid fierce competition from abroad, Chinese ferro-silicon exporters appear to be facing an even greater challenge this year. Global steel production shrank in the first half of 2020 amid the damaging economic and social effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, in turn dampening demand for ferro-silicon alloys.China, the world's largest ferro-silicon producer, exported 16...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 5 that are worth another look....Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
The Turkish steel mills have continued their purchases of deep-sea ferrous scrap at steady prices, while suppliers in Europe were still struggling with the strength of the euro, sources said on Wednesday August 5.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 10,000 tonnes of shredded and 10,000 tonnes of a mixture of bonus and HMS 1 at an...Read More
Bangladeshi steelmaker SS Steel has purchased competitor producer Saleh Steel in a deal worth 247 million taka ($2.86 million), according to a filing to the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The deal, which was first made public on Tuesday August 4, sees SS Steel take 99% of the shares in Saleh Steel Industries Ltd. SS Steel has pledged to invest a further 1.34 billion taka toward the "smooth running" of the...Read More
Three experienced mining leaders give valuable insights into decision-making and seizing opportunities during a global crisis.Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, mining executives are being forced to take swift action and make tough decisions as prices fall, economies contract and demand in key consuming industries declines. Three leading mining industry executives told Andrea Hotter about their res...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were firmer this morning, Wednesday August 5, with gains averaging 0.3%.Pre-market major western equity index futures were also in positive territory, while metals and equities in Asian-Pacific markets were mixed.Western markets seem buoyed by hopes for a stimulus package announcement by the United States this week. China's Caixin service...Read More
The cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log, including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies. Fastmarkets assessed cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam at $14.35-14.80 per lb on Wednesday August 5, 2020....Read More
The cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log, including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies. Fastmarkets assessed cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam at $14.50-14.90 per lb...Read More
The local cobalt futures price in China leapt this week, resulting in higher quotations in the spot market, but weak downstream demand and resistance to rapid price hikes created a disconnect between physical and futures prices. The cobalt price on the Wuxi Stainless Steel Exchange (Wuxi) started to rise quickly at the beginning of this week after consolidating previous gains late in the prior wee...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 5 that are worth another look....Read More
Domestic transaction prices in Italy for heavy steel plate have moved further upward because of rising slab costs, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 5.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe, was ?,?450-470 ($530-553) per tonne on August 5, up by ?,?5-20 per tonne week on week from ?,?445-450 per tonne.The assessment was based on the la...Read More
Prices for domestic cold-rolled coil in Southern Europe increased over the week to Wednesday August 5, but remained unchanged in the North of the region, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, domestic, exw Southern Europe, was ?,?480-490 ($565-577) per tonne on August 5, up by ?,?10 per tonne week on week from ?,?470-480 per tonne on July 29...Read More
Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau already plans to increase its domestic price for steel rebar by 6-8% in August, chief executive officer Gustavo Werneck told journalists in a press conference on Wednesday August 5.A previous increase of around 10% was already almost fully applied across June and July, according to the CEO. Stronger-than-expected demand from the construction sector and a discount over i...Read More
Hollow steel sections prices in Southern Europe moved up on Wednesday August 5 before the expected market slowdown for the summer, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?540-560 ($636-659) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.Italian mills have been increasing their offer prices, even though mos...Read More
The price of steel H-beam prices in Europe were unchanged again on Wednesday August 5 due to the summer holiday period in the continent keeping trading levels low, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe was ?,?530-560 ($624-659) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.Producers have been keen to achieve price increa...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 5 that are worth another look....Read More
The Turkish steel mills have continued their purchases of deep-sea ferrous scrap at steady prices, while suppliers in Europe were still struggling with the strength of the euro, sources said on Wednesday August 5.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 10,000 tonnes of shredded and 10,000 tonnes of a mixture of bonus and HMS 1 at an...Read More
Activity in the seaborne iron ore market fell flat on Wednesday August 5, with sources saying that trading eased off because of a lack of clear market information, which left prices stable.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $118.10 per tonne, up by $0.22 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $118.34 per tonne, up by $0.04 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr...Read More
Iranian steel billet producers managed to achieve higher prices in the most recent round of sales, supported by the bullish mood in the global market and strong domestic demand.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel billet, export, fob ports Iran, was $392-395 per tonne on Wednesday August 5, against $388-392 per tonne a week earlier.Market participants reported sales from mills to traders...Read More