The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Activity in China has picked up, and although the impact from the Covid-19 did not spare the country with its gross domestic product contracting at its largest rate since recording began in the 1990s, the latest crude steel output figures for April from China's National Bureau of Statistics show a strong recovery, albeit sti...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.The first quarter continued the trend of 2019 - for China to actively import relatively cheap metallics and semi-finished steel - but can this be sustained? The answer to this question will come down to the price competitiveness of the products, we believe. One additional incentive to continue to import metallics this year -...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.The recent decline in Chinese scrap prices - to their lowest in a couple of years - even as demand rises, suggests that Chinese scrap supply is increasingly sufficient. In terms of scrap demand, the question is more about price attractiveness. Mini-mills were reducing demand in February, largely because steel margins on scra...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices have fared relatively well over the past couple of months in the face of the threat from the Covid-19 pandemic.In grade-304 material, the most common grade of stainless steel, prices were down by about 5-7% since the turn of the year - not bad, when compared with the falls in prices of other assets so f...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Having first hit Asia during early 2020, the Covid-19 viral outbreak is now having an even bigger impact on European countries and the US. Widespread lockdown measures have been put in place on people and industry, and economic activity has slowed markedly.For now, stainless steel markets in Europe and the US are yet to show...Read More
Markets were for the most part stronger this morning, Monday June 1, following relief that United States President Donald Trump’s response last Friday to China’s plans to impose national security laws in Hong Kong did not shake market sentiment because he did not meddle with the phase one US-China trade deal, or increase sanctions. Asian-Pacific equities indices were up strongly, as were...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures slipped 4 points in pre-opening trade.U.S. equity index futures were weaker despite strength in European and Far East equity markets. Notably stronger was the Shanghai Composite Index, up 63.08 to a 10 week high of 2915.43 following news that the China Caixin Purchasing Managers Index advanced from 49.4 in April to 50.7 in May....Read More
Concerns over the availability of nickel for the battery sector increase from 2022, when electric vehicle (EV) growth picks up again after a period of weak consumer confidence caused by Covid-19, according to a poll conducted during a Fastmarkets webinar.About 44% of respondents to a poll at the end of the webinar said nickel was the battery raw material with which they were most concerned about s...Read More
The three-month price of zinc on the London Metal Exchange rose by 2.50% during trading on Friday May 29 to close at $1,988 per tonne.The zinc price reached a high of $1,992 per tonne on Friday, but failed to breach the $2,000-per-tonne mark despite a turnover of 9,867 lots.LME zinc stocks have declined to 101,350 tonnes after an outflow of 1,900 tonnes and fresh cancellations of 750 tonnes on Fri...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the session ending Friday May 29.China UG2 chrome ore prices rose for a fourth consecutive week - deals at higher prices were reported, reflecting attempts to restock among ferro-chrome producers with low on-hand inventories. Domestic spot ferro-chrome prices stabilized - sentiment further strengthened after Taiyuan Iro...Read More
Concerns over the availability of nickel for the battery sector increase from 2022, when electric vehicle (EV) growth picks up again after a period of weak consumer confidence caused by Covid-19, according to a poll conducted during a Fastmarkets webinar.About 44% of respondents to a poll at the end of the webinar said nickel was the battery raw material with which they were most concerned about s...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the session ending Friday May 29.China Domestic prices continued to rise, propelled higher by supply tightness. Market sentiment also improved after many steel mills set their June tender prices for ferro-silicon at 5,900-6,000 yuan ($824-838) per tonne for cargoes...Read More
Fastmarkets is proposing to amend the specifications of cobalt hydroxide prices in order to reference a threshold for maximum iron content.Following an initial discussion with market participants, Fastmarkets is proposing to tighten the chemical specifications of the cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low end) and the c...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for their latest price moves.Read More
The Turkish steel producers resumed their deep-sea scrap purchases after the post-Ramadan holiday break with prices going up, while demand in Asia was also firm during the working week ended Friday May 29.Turkish steel mills booked six deep-sea cargoes at higher pricesUS exporters are working to fill sales from both West and East CoastsImport scrap prices in Vietnam rise, outlook unclearTight supp...Read More
The price of shredded ferrous scrap imported into India in containers moved up on Friday May 29, on growing interest from mills returning to the market for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated the steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India, at $275.21 per tonne on Friday, up from $266.67 per tonne a week earlier. Many market...Read More
The inter-merchant spot price for light iron scrap in the UK has moved higher by ?5 ($6) per tonne in the week to Friday May 29, the first price movement in May. Reduced arisings from scrap generation amid a slump in manufacturing and construction is outweighing slow demand from steelmakers.The price move may extend into monthly steel scrap delivery prices to consumers in the UK steel sector, wit...Read More
Broader markets were generally weaker this morning, Friday May 29, while they wait for what United States President Donald Trump's response will be to China's plans to impose national security laws in Hong Kong. The base metals were mixed, however. On the Shanghai Futures Exchange only the lead contract was showing price falls, while most of the base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange were...Read More