Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
Metals, mining and alloy producers have been scenario-planning in response to the novel coronavirus. The South African government appears to have just removed all but one option.President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the country's mineral resources industry to shut underground mines and furnaces from Thursday March 26, unless they can be operated remotely. The shutdown will last for three weeks an...Read More
Trading activity in the hot-rolled coil market in Northern Europe was slowed by closures at a number of vehicle manufacturers across Europe, although other consuming industries remained relatively active, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday March 23.But at the same time, trading activity in Southern Europe was close to zero, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
CIS export rebar and wire rod prices remained largely unchanged in the week to Monday March 23 with trading activity being limited.Lower levels of trade followed the slowdown of demand in most markets due to the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic."The market is very weak at the moment. If last week there was some activity, today and in the next two weeks it will all be quiet," one trader...Read More
The rebar price in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow increased in the week to Monday March 23 on a sharp depreciation of the rouble against the dollar. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, including 20% value-added tax (VAT) was 34,500-35,000 roubles ($432-437) per tonne on Monday, up from 34,000-34,500 roubles per...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap import market started the week in silence on Monday March 23, with some fearing the worst is yet to come with regard to the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), sources told Fastmarkets.The market has been quiet since a $23.90-per-tonne day-on-day price drop on Wednesday March 18, following news of a fresh cargo.Since then, market participants have turned increas...Read More
Turkish domestic auto bundle scrap prices have fallen sharply over the past week, in line with declining scrap import values, with some mills stopping their scrap purchases, sources said on Monday March 23.Turkish scrap import prices fell by 9% last week, amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic.Fastmarkets' daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US origin, cfr Turkey, was $249.0...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
Most of the world's markets for steel billet have been affected by negative sentiment after strong decreases in the prices for ferrous scrap. Buyers in China, however, were importing material while their domestic prices were rising.Import prices of ferrous scrap in Turkey fell last week, with a day-on-day drop of $23.90 per tonne on March 18, and further price cuts were expected.Fastmarkets' daily...Read More
Steel slab prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States dropped in the seven days to Monday March 23 following the weakening of finished flat steel prices and lower demand in the major outlets.Lower demand for slab followed the slowdown in trading activity in most markets due to the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic.Despite the lockdown in Italy, which has the highest number of contamination ca...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
The price of stainless steel in the European domestic market was unchanged this week but the market was bracing itself for a substantial slowdown arising from the consequences of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, Fastmarkets heard on Friday March 20.Distributors in Northern Europe reported that demand was largely steady, with customers taking their regular tonnages."March is looking like it will...Read More
The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside China has brought with it logistical restrictions, a reconsideration of raw material requirements and concerns over possible disruptions to supply in the coming weeks. Here are five things under consideration by the minor metals and ferro-alloys markets while the situation develops. Adjustments to delivery and payment terms to mitigate risk T...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
Automotive manufacturers in the UK have announced production suspensions after measures taken by European governments to restrict the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic led to a series of closures among other carmakers, creating problems that affect the supply chain and manufacturing.Ford UKUnited States-based Ford will bring forward scheduled summer shutdowns at its UK operations in Dag...Read More
Metals, mining and alloy producers have been scenario-planning in response to the novel coronavirus. The South African government appears to have just removed all but one option.President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the country's mineral resources industry to shut underground mines and furnaces from Thursday March 26, unless they can be operated remotely. The shutdown will last for three weeks an...Read More
The Italian government has ordered the closure of all non-essential production operations in the country, including steelmaking, as part of the measures to battle the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, prime minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday March 21.Flat steel producer ArcelorMittal Italia, however, will continue operations despite the new decree, the company told Fastmarkets on March 23.Ital...Read More
Eastern China's Shagang has increased the prices for its long steel products for bookings over the March 21-31 period, according to an announcement on Saturday March 21.HRB400 rebar (16-25mm): 3,700 yuan ($521) per tonne,...Read More