The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.While downward pressure mounts on the steelmaking raw material markets, premiums for higher-grade iron ores have been sustained despite narrowing operating margins at Chinese steelmakers. Chinese mills are operating with shrinking margins since the end of last year but the premium for high-grade ores remains high. Historical...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This week Fastmarkets' analysts and price reporters shared their views and recent findings in a webinar revealing some distinct fundamental tensions for steel, refining alloys and, of course, steelmaking raw materials such as iron ore.While the outlook for chrome and manganese ores and alloys is balanced, as far as market pa...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.A 6% decline in the daily average 62% Fe iron ore fines benchmark last week contributed to the lowest quarterly price rise for the first quarter in five years, in spite of clear evidence of supply-side constraints. Although there were clear demand-related obstacles to iron ore suppliers raking in more typical, seasonal price...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Coronavirus continues to shape scrap markets but tighter supply may partly offset lower demandWe have downwardly revised our ferrous scrap price forecasts for the following few months and, as a result, for the whole year of 2020, with the Covid-19 outbreak outside China stalling the markets. The Fastmarkets' daily benchmark...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
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
The Covid-19 pandemic is a unifier in that it impacts all. But sub-Saharan Africa is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis that threatens to throw the region off its stride, reversing the development progress of recent years and hitting the mining sector hard.The mineral-rich region - which comprises 46 of the 54 countries in the continent below the Sahara - is expected to see its eco...Read More
The three-month zinc price on the London Metal Exchange finished strong on Friday April 17, closing at $1,958 per tonne after steadily gaining through the week.The zinc price briefly touched a high of $1,962.50 per tonne on a day that saw 5,270 lots traded. The rally in the zinc price is significant given that the galvanizing metal's price was at $1,793 per tonne on March 25.Global LME refined zin...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
Fastmarkets reviews the latest developments in South African ores and alloys supply following the lockdown order on Monday March 23 amid the spread of Covid-19 and the subsequent extension on Thursday April 9 by a further two weeks from the initial 21 days. Mines and smelters across the country were ordered to shut down by midnight on March 26 and most of the existing lockdown measures are expecte...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday April 17.China The UG2 chrome ore market rose again on increased buying interest and bullish sentiment following South Africa's lockdown extension, and an expectation of a slow restart to mining operations.The spot domestic ferro-chrome prices remained stable, the market was...Read More
Fastmarkets' copper concentrate treatment and refining charge index continued to drop in the week ended Friday April 17 with limited tonnages sold over the assessment period. The benchmark index fell to $58.6 per tonne/ 5.86 cents per lb on Friday, from $60.1 per tonne/ 6.01 cents per lb a week ago. A handful of deals were concluded in the low $60s per tonne /6 cents per lb to smelters while...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for their latest price moves.Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
The inter-merchant spot price for light iron scrap in the United Kingdom inched up over the past week following an ongoing shortage of supply and rising global markets, sources said on Friday April 17. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK moved up by ?5 per tonne to ?50-60($62-75) per tonne on April 17, up from ?45...Read More
UK suppliers of steel scrap to domestic consumers have reported a decrease in their prices in the latest monthly settlements in April, following poor market conditions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday April 17.Fastmarkets assesses the prices of trend-indicating grades in the UK such as HMS 1&2 (old steel) and OA plate and structural (P&S) scrap.The pr...Read More
Austenitic stainless steel scrap prices for material imported into Europe increased this week because of tight supply, despite demand still being poor, Fastmarkets heard on Friday April 17.Fastmarkets' weekly assessment of the price for stainless steel scrap 18/8 solids, import, cif main European port, was ?,?890-910 ($967-989) per tonne on Friday, up by ?,?40-60 per tonne.This was the second cons...Read More
The Covid-19 pandemic is a unifier in that it impacts all. But sub-Saharan Africa is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis that threatens to throw the region off its stride, reversing the development progress of recent years and hitting the mining sector hard.The mineral-rich region - which comprises 46 of the 54 countries in the continent below the Sahara - is expected to see its eco...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
The Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price fell by 2.7% on Thursday April 16 after buyers dropped offers again to stimulate a reluctant market, while the Asian seaborne market finally ended its steady streak.China's battery-grade lithium carbonate price resumed trending downward due to weak buying appetite. The price of Chinese industry-grade lithium carbonate, produced using...Read More