The collapse of the iron ore market and market turbulence over Chinese property developer Evergrande Group are adding to the economic woes caused by the Delta variant of Covid-19 for much of this year.It is hard to find bright sparks in the months ahead for the ferrous supply chain, which has been buffeted repeatedly in a short span of few months, starting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's comment...Read More
China has started sourcing for wire rod and rebar imports amid electricity crimps caused by a shortage of thermal coal and ensuing high power costs, market sources told Fastmarkets."Rerollers in China have been running at low rates because of a shortage of electricity, so China needs finished products such as rebar and wire rod instead," a trader in Singapore told Fastmarkets on Friday October 8."...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the 5pm close on Tuesday October 12 amid concerns over inflation, and rising energy costs and power outages in China.The three-month price of aluminium continued its upward momentum during Tuesday's trading, closing at $3,068 per tonne, up from $3,064 per tonne on Monday.The lightweight metal hit an intraday high of $3,114.50 per tonne...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices were down on Tuesday October 12 amid limited trading at Chinese ports, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $129.00 per tonne, down $6.03 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $130.17 per tonne, down $8.93 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $98.51 per tonne, down $7.08 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fi...Read More
Spot prices for hot-rolled coil in China fell sharply on Tuesday October 12 after futures prices tumbled on potential increases in supply.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,750-5,760 yuan ($891-892) per tonne, down by 110-130 yuan per tonne The most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange shed more than 200 yuan per tonne, or 3.58%, on Tuesday, marking the biggest one-day loss sin...Read More
European steel companies must scale up their decarbonization technologies within the coming decade or risk exhausting their allocated emissions allowances early, according to a report released on Tuesday September 14.The report, "Steeling for Net Zero," by climate researcher Industry Tracker, found that selected European steel companies have less than 26% of their carbon budget remaining and must...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:US prices for hot-rolled coil moved in line with our forecasts in August, averaging $1,910 per ton, within 1% accuracy of our forecast of $1,925 per ton. The market has achieved much-needed stability in recent weeks, with prices fluctuating in the range of $1,900-1,94...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:Bulk and noble alloys both moved largely in line with our price forecasts globally over the past month, though several markets surprised to the upside, exceeding our forecast gains. Stronger-than-forecast pricing momentum was primarily triggered by supply shortages in numerous...Read More
Ecobat's Stolberg lead smelter will remain shut until spring 2022; regional tightness is pushing more consumers to look for spot units.The German lead plant, which declared force majeure due to floods in July, is still undergoing repair work, a company statement seen by Fastmarkets on Tuesday October 12 said. The smelter is in the process of procuring parts and equipment for the rebuild, the...Read More
The export market for flat steel product from the Commonwealth of Independent States touched the bottom during the week to Monday October 11, sources said, while suppliers' mood has turned bullish.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, export, fob Black Sea, CIS was $800-820 per tonne on Monday, unchanged week on week.Sales of both Ukraine and Russia-origin HRC were report...Read More
The London Metal Exchange has registered the first sustainability disclosures on its new digital credentials register, LMEpassport, it announced on Tuesday October 12.LMEpassport is a platform register that enables a voluntary market-wide sustainable metals labelling program.Metals producers Anglo American Platinum, Antofagasta plc, Boliden, Companhia Brasileira de Alumnio (CBA), Freeport-McMoran,...Read More
Power cuts remained a prominent factor in China through the third quarter of 2021 as the world's second-largest economy grappled with soaring coal prices and its own strict limits on energy consumption - put in place to help the country achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.An increasing number of factories - especially those in energy intensive industries - have suffered from curbs to their power usa...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday October 11 that are worth another look.Global cobalt supply can't keep pace with surging cobalt consumption because its production is tied to copper and nickel mining rather than underlying demand, the chief executive officer of diversified mining company Eurasian Resources Group...Read More
Base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange remained robust during morning trading on Tuesday October 12, while power supply concerns in China and the rest of the world persist.China will allow its floating electricity prices to rise further from October 15 to stabilize supply amid a shortage in the country, according to a notice released by the country's National Development & Reform Commissio...Read More
The publication of Fastmarkets' Southeast Asia copper premium was delayed on October 5 because of a reporter error.Fastmarkets' pricing database has since been updated.The MB-CU-0399 - Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Southeast Asia, $/tonne has now been updated.For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of these prices, or if you would like to provide pric...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States remained under $97 per hundredweight ($1,940 per short ton) after market participants said restocking is not widely needed and that pricing may have peaked.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $96.89 per cwt ($1,937.80 per ton) on Tuesday October 12, little-changed from $96.83 per cwt on Monday October 11 but down...Read More
Activity in the European hot-rolled coil market remained subdued on Tuesday October 12, with sentiment still bearish, sources have told Fastmarkets.The majority of European buyers have sufficient stocks to last until the end of the year and have only been purchasing smaller lots to restock particular specifications of coil. Distributors, however, were expected to return to the market for orders in...Read More
The prices of imported steel rebar to the United Arab Emirates increased slightly in the week to Tuesday October 12, while sources expect other prices to increase because of rising energy costs globally, sources told Fastmarkets.Energy costs have been increasing in most markets, with steel mills adding the cost to their prices.Some of the rebar re-rollers in the UAE stopped accepting new orders du...Read More
Export prices for Chinese steel cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil have moved slightly higher from those seen in late September, while trading liquidity remained quiet.Demand for Chinese CRC and HDG has been poor in the week to Tuesday October 12, with buyers shifting their attention to cheaper resources from other origins and overall demand weak due to Covid-19 pandemic situations ac...Read More
Prices for almost all steel scrap grades continued to drop in Mexico in the week ended Friday October 8, with market participants indicating there was no end in sight for the price reductions.Some buyers have been applying gradual price adjustments on a weekly basis, while others made sharp decreases at the beginning of the month.More price reductions are being planned, with at least one major scr...Read More