Turkish steel producers remained quiet in the deep-sea scrap import markets while suppliers were unwilling to sell at current price levels, sources said on Wednesday April 1.The mills were mostly shunning scrap purchases because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, which brought steel trade to a halt and caused mills to close or cut production.After several steel mills in the Izmir region were...Read More
Prices for Japanese ferrous scrap continued to soften over the past week, but the scale of the decline was tempered by falling collection volumes, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday April 1.Japanese H2 scrap prices have fallen by ?4,000 ($37) per tonne over the past seven weeks, and these weaker prices, together with slowing industrial activity due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices fell on Wednesday April 1, with buyers bearish and traders standing by. Fastmarkets IndicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $144.90 per tonne, down $1.27 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $150.65 per tonne, down $3.60 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $128.51 per tonne, down $2.50 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $137.00...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices managed to stay above $80 per tonne cfr on Wednesday April 1 despite weakening from a day earlier amid a softening rebar market in China.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $82.49 per tonne, down $0.83 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $83.80 per tonne, down $0.28 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $71.48 per tonne, do...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
China domestic rebar prices continued to decline on Wednesday April 1 amid a weakening futures market, which sapped buying interest. Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,390-3,420 yuan ($478-482) per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,330-3,370 yuan per tonne, widened downward by 10 yuan per tonne Domestic prices in eastern China have fallen by 80 yuan per tonne over the first...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices tumbled on Wednesday April 1 amid thin trading, which forced mills to lower their export offers to avoid bigger losses.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,220-3,240 yuan ($454-457) per tonne, down 50-60 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,200-3,210 yuan per tonne, down 40-50 yuan per tonneA Shanghai-based trader said trading activity during the day wa...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were capped during the morning session on Wednesday April 1, with the previous day's gains wiped out after a brief rally precipitated by positive data from China and month-end book squaring abruptly halted."Despite the release of better-than-expected data from China, the LME three-month base metals prices have started the new trading mont...Read More
A summary of China's largest vanadium producer, Pangang Vanadium & Titanium Co's, annual report in 2019. In brief The Shenzhen-listed company's net profits in 2019 were around 1.42 billion yuan ($200 million), a year-on-year drop of 54.08% or 1.67 billion yuan. ...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday April 1. Key drivers Russia, a supplier of 40% of European ferro-titanium, is on lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic until next week and it could be extended.Russian producers are considering declaring force majeure should the lockdown continue beyond a week. Titanium scrap prices are stable...Read More
China will extend the new energy vehicle (NEV) purchase subsidy and purchase tax exemption policy for two years in an effort to support consumption and mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy. Yet the measures may not be sufficient to drive lithium and cobalt market development significantly in the near term, Fastmarkets heard. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced at a State Co...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
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:While the ferro-alloy industry's initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak was marked by rising prices primarily in response to supply-side concerns, focus has now shifted somewhat. As Chinese activity slowly returns to more normal levels, for alloys with a strong Chinese produ...Read More
After months of virtual inactivity, supply worries from Russia, a major exporter of ferro-titanium to Europe, have sparked upward movement in European spot prices that may trend higher in the near term, trade sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' ferro-titanium 70% Ti, max 4.5% Al, ddp Europe price jumped by more than 10% week on week on Wednesday April 1 to $4.50-5.00 per kg from $4.10-4.50...Read More
Markets seem to be in the calm before the United States employment data storm this morning, Thursday April 2, with metals prices mixed, trading volume low and not much movement on equity indices for a change. * Asian-Pacific equity indices were mixed this morning, but pre-market western futures were firmer with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by 1.2% as at 7 am London time. * Stocks in Asia in...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 36 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims was a slip to 3.000 million from 3.283 million last week. Actual was 6.65 million. Consensus for the February U.S. Trade Deficit was $43 billion versus $45.30 bill...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 31 that are worth another look.The Spanish steel industry has demanded clarification from the government following a March 29 decree to shut down all non-essential production as part of the battle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Fastmarkets heard on March 31.The closure of borders and reduced port operations across African...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday March 31.Please click...Read More
The closure of borders and reduced port operations across African countries have led to month-long delays of copper cargoes, while suppliers have raced to re-route goods over the past week. "We are now stressed out trying alternative routes. But the problem is even if the cargoes can depart from other ports, their port capacities are significantly lower. We are talking about delay in terms of mont...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday March 31 that are worth another look.The Spanish steel industry has demanded clarification from the government following a March 29 decree to shut down all non-essential production as part of the battle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Fastmarkets heard on March 31.The closure of borders and reduced port operations across African...Read More