A summary of ArcelorMittal's financial results for the first quarter of 2020. In brief The company blames the Covid-19 pandemic for a notable drop of earnings in the first quarter 2020 year on year, with both volumes and prices severely affected. The company also attributed the fall in sales income to lower average steel selling prices. The company noted a notable drop in industr...Read More
The European Commission (EC) might start an anti-dumping case into imports of hot-rolled coil originating from Turkey, market sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday May 7.European steel association Eurofer has lodged a complaint with the EC, alleging that HRC has been exported from Turkey at dumped prices."In April 2020, a new [anti-dumping] investigation was opened into HRC from Turkey," ArcelorMit...Read More
Brazil-based steelmaker Gerdau expects the level of long steel sales in North America and the gap between ferrous scrap costs and finished steel prices to remain stable during the second quarter, when compared with January-March figures.Gerdau chief executive officer Gustavo Werneck said the current spread was $422 per short ton in North America, an increase of $20 from the levels seen in Jan...Read More
The European Commission (EC) might start an anti-dumping case into imports of hot-rolled coil originating from Turkey, market sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday May 7.European steel association Eurofer has lodged a complaint with the EC, alleging that HRC has been exported from Turkey at dumped prices."In April 2020, a new [anti-dumping] investigation was opened into HRC from Turkey," ArcelorMit...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday May 7 that are worth another look.The European Commission (EC) might start an anti-dumping case into imports of hot-rolled coil originating from Turkey, market sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday May 7.Mining companies are looking to trading houses and specialist funds for credit since lower metal prices and enforced shutdowns ha...Read More
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a US commodities regulator, is analyzing what led the crude oil price to move into negative territory last month, including an assessment of market participant activities and whether position limits and other regulations might need to change.The move could add impetus to the CFTC's proposal to impose federal position limits in 25 energy, metals and...Read More
The mining industry is set to undergo a paradigm shift in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that will include a reshaping of corporates, including through "dynamic" mergers and acquisitions, the chief executive officer of Barrick Gold Corporation said.Mark Bristow, whose Africa-focused miner Randgold Resources merged with Canada-based gold and copper giant Barrick last year, said it was a gre...Read More
Aluminium foundry alloy premiums continued their decline in Europe and held steady in the United States on Thursday May 7 on a lack of spot activity, even as automakers began to restart vehicle production in both regions.End-user demand a concern in EuropeAlthough automakers have begun to restart in Europe, market participants said vehicle production remains too low to attract demand for foundry a...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday May 7 that are worth another look.The European Commission (EC) might start an anti-dumping case into imports of hot-rolled coil originating from Turkey, market sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday May 7.Mining companies are looking to trading houses and specialist funds for credit since lower metal prices and enforced shutdowns ha...Read More
Charles Li, chief executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) will not seek reappointment at the end of his current contract, the exchange announced on Thursday May 7.It means Li will leave his role as CEO of HKEX, which owns the London Metal Exchange, in October 2021.Li confirmed his full commitment to continuing to lead the organization until that date, or earlier, should a...Read More
Mining companies are looking to trading houses and specialist funds for credit since lower metal prices and enforced shutdowns have restricted cashflow. Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are among major mining nations to order mine closures as part of countrywide lockdowns designed to protect against the spread of the Covid-19 disease. Cashflow-limit...Read More
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a US commodities regulator, is analyzing what led the crude oil price to move into negative territory last month, including an assessment of market participant activities and whether position limits and other regulations might need to change.The move could add impetus to the CFTC's proposal to impose federal position limits in 25 energy, metals and...Read More
The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange maintained upward momentum at the close of trading on Thursday May 7, settling above the nearby $2,000 per tonne resistance level for the first time in over a month, while steady buying in copper saw price action similarly incline over the afternoon. Zinc's underlying price on the LME closed at $2,003.50 per tonne at the 5pm London close on T...Read More
Steady buying of the three-month zinc contract on the London Metal Exchange took the price above $2,000 per tonne on Thursday May 7 for the first time since March 11. Zinc's outright price on the LME was recently at $2,008.50 per tonne, building on gains made over Wednesday afternoon, while turnover was high at some 4,000 lots exchanged by 10am London time. This comes despite well-stocked LME zinc...Read More
Aluminium billet premiums around the globe were unchanged on Thursday May 7 due to low liquidity and poor demand across all regions.European consumers begin to reopenUS premium at all-time lowBrazilian market uneventfulAsian market quietPremiums in Germany, Italy at record lowsDemand for aluminium billet in Europe remained poor this week, with limited spot deals reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets...Read More
While global long steel production is expected to recover quicker than demand, which could put pressure on market prices, the outlook for the next quarter is unstable due to a lack of demand and low pricing, the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) said this week.Supply and demand have worsened in the European Union due to a lockdown among most world economies.It is...Read More
The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange maintained upward momentum at the close of trading on Thursday May 7, settling above the nearby $2,000 per tonne resistance level for the first time in over a month, while steady buying in copper saw price action similarly incline over the afternoon. Zinc's underlying price on the LME closed at $2,003.50 per tonne at the 5pm London close on T...Read More
United States-based Ball Corp expects to slightly delay beverage packaging growth projects in Europe and Brazil as a result of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The metals packaging and aerospace supplier said projects for multiple beverage can line additions will be executed across its existing European plant network in 2020 and beyond to meet demand recovery, but that certain work has been d...Read More
Key information from the pricing session for Fastmarkets' alumina index, fob Australia on Thursday May 7. Fastmarkets' daily alumina index, fob Australia was little changed at $241 per tonne on Thursday from $241.37 per tonne a week ago. Key drivers: Majority of market sees $240 per tonne as repeatable after multiple deals were concluded around this level last week. The most recen...Read More
The US Department of Commerce has initiated anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of pre-stressed concrete steel wire strand from 15 countries. Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates will be investigated for dumping, and Turkey will be invest...Read More