Cobalt sulfate prices fell below 50,000 yuan ($7,131) per tonne on Wednesday March 18, with the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside China exacerbating concerns over slower growth in global electric vehicle (EV) production. Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis exw China, dropped to 47,000-49,000 yuan per tonne on Wednesday March 18, down 5.8% from 50...Read More
The feasibility study for an expansion of the currently idled First Cobalt cobalt refinery in Canada continues despite the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, with a restart in the fourth quarter under consideration.The company is contemplating an initial recommissioning of the refinery in partnership with commodities miner and marketer Glencore before expanding production as early as the seco...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 18 that are worth another look.More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on March 18.The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic is starting to hit mine supply o...Read More
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.The outbreak continues to hamper steel output in Europe with more producers announcing either stoppages or production slowdowns this week, sources said.The largest European steel produce...Read More
The mood in the European hot-rolled coil market has been negative since the announcements of plant closures by a number of major car manufacturers, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.This week, most major European car makers were set to close production units in response to the effects of the spread of 2019-nCoV coronavirus.Market activity, in the meantime, has been low due to risks re...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 18 that are worth another look.More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on March 18.The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic is starting to hit mine supply o...Read More
Wire rod prices and demand in the United States remained steady for the second month in a row, while sources were wary of the potential market impact from the spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Fastmarkets' assessment for steel wire rod (low carbon) industrial quality, fob mill US held at $31-32 per hundredweight ($620-640 per short ton) on Tuesday March 17, unchanged from the previous month. F...Read More
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.The outbreak continues to hamper steel output in Europe with more producers announcing either stoppages or production slowdowns this week, sources said.The largest European steel produce...Read More
Turkish steel producers resumed their deep-sea scrap bookings for April shipment cargoes with prices down sharply, sources said on Wednesday March 18.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a Canadian cargo, comprising 18,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (90:10), 20,000 tonnes of shredded and 12,000 tonnes of plate and structural (P&S) scrap at an average price of $255 per tonne cfr.Market sources cal...Read More
Japanese export prices for ferrous scrap have fallen for the third consecutive week, with market conditions expected to deteriorate further in the short term, trading sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel scrap H2 export, fob main port Japan, settled at ?22,000-22,500 ($206-210) per tonne on Wednesday, down by ?500 per tonne week on week from last...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices were up on Wednesday March 18, with Brazilian-origin high-grade fines finding traction among buyers in China.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $91.71 per tonne, up $0.51 per tonne. 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $93.20 per tonne, up $0.81 per tonne 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $80.43 per tonne, up 0.64 per ton...Read More
The Iranian export billet market was largely quiet in the week to Wednesday March 18 while trading activity slowed due to the effects of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic and the approaching Iranian new year holiday - Nowruz - starting March 21.There were no fresh offers of billet from Iranian mills heard in the market this week, Fastmarkets was told.The country's largest billet producer Khouze...Read More
Steel billet prices in the majority of regions around the world weakened in the week to Friday March 13 amid a bearish outlook for the ferrous scrap market and reduced demand due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside of China.Meanwhile, China was the only market to see an improvement in prices amid production cuts.ChinaNorthern China's steel hub of Tangshan will cut 1.6...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices moved up on Wednesday March 18 amid falling inventories at mills and on the spot markets, Fastmarkets heard.Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,530-3,560 yuan ($503-507) per tonne, up 20-30 yuan per tonne Northern China (Beijing): 3,390-3,430 yuan per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneSteel stock has decreased in the past week or two, with more end-users returning to the market, sou...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday March 18.Key drivers Firm production at ferro-titanium plants supports alloy and titanium scrap prices against similar demand in end-user markets. Titanium scrap prices steady against strong alloy production. Market sources expect little change near term ahead of a...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in Europe were unchanged this week despite a slowdown in trading while the 2019-nCoV coronavirus spread across the region, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?600-630 ($664-697) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week."It's becoming more a...Read More
Sales of passenger cars in the EU dropped by 7.41% year on year in February 2020, the second consecutive monthly decline.New car sales in Europe totalled 957,052 vehicles in February 2020, down from 1,033,608 units sold in the corresponding month of 2019, the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Wednesday March 18."This...Read More
Automotive manufacturers in Europe have announced temporary production shutdowns at sites throughout the continent, because of the problems being created by the measures taken by governments to restrict the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak.The latest suspensions followed a raft of announcements made at the beginning of this week.Rolls-RoyceUK-based Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will suspend p...Read More
More European steel producers have announced production cuts and equipment stoppages because of the measures being taken to combat the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 18.The outbreak continues to hamper steel output in Europe with more producers announcing either stoppages or production slowdowns this week, sources said.The largest European steel produce...Read More
Sales of passenger cars in the EU dropped by 7.41% year on year in February 2020, the second consecutive monthly decline.New car sales in Europe totalled 957,052 vehicles in February 2020, down from 1,033,608 units sold in the corresponding month of 2019, the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Wednesday March 18."This...Read More