Base metals prices were for the most part weaker this morning, Wednesday February 26, weighed down by further weakness from global equity markets that have in recent days been shaken from their complacency.The latest retreat in equities was partly fueled by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning Americans to prepare for the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the Unit...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 26 that are worth another look.China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Metal and ferro-alloy...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) have narrowed upward in Northern Europe over the past week, supported by strong demand and an absence of imported alternative material, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday February 26.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HDG, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?580-600 ($630-652) per tonne ex-works on February 26, compared with ?,?...Read More
The mood in the European hot-rolled coil market has been bullish amid a lack of competitive import offers and domestic mills' good order books, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday February 26.Northern EuropeFastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, ex-works Northern Europe was at ?,?483.71 ($525.29) per tonne on Wednesday February 26, down by ?,?0.27 per tonne day on day from ?,?...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 26 that are worth another look.China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Metal and ferro-alloy...Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Europe were unchanged this week due to a lack of both trading activity and demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday February 26.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?475-485 per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.The market was reported to be quiet this week because of public h...Read More
Industrial Metallurgical Holding (IMH) will start maintenance of a blast furnace (BF) at its Tulachermet facility early to reduce rebar supply in March from Tula Steel due to a weak market, the company told Fastmarkets on February 25.Tulachermet, which supplies Tula Steel with pig iron, will stop BF No3 for around a month from late March after previously planning to begin in April. BF No3 has capa...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 26 that are worth another look.China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Metal and ferro-alloy...Read More
Industrial Metallurgical Holding (IMH) will start maintenance of a blast furnace (BF) at its Tulachermet facility early to reduce rebar supply in March from Tula Steel due to a weak market, the company told Fastmarkets on February 25.Tulachermet, which supplies Tula Steel with pig iron, will stop BF No3 for around a month from late March after previously planning to begin in April. BF No3 has capa...Read More
The Turkish steel mills have continued to be largely silent in the deep-sea scrap markets to try to restrict the upward trend in prices, sources said on Wednesday February 26.The mills were very active in the deep-sea scrap markets in the period February 4-24, booking at least 22 cargoes totaling more than 700,000 tonnes. As a result, scrap import prices into Turkey have been climbing since the be...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 26 that are worth another look.China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Metal and ferro-alloy...Read More
The availability of Iranian steel billet was limited in the export markets because of strong domestic demand, Fastmarkets learned on Wednesday February 26.Weakening of the local currency against the US dollar was the reason for the increased domestic demand, with imports being more problematical."Continued devaluation [of the Iranian rial] means that local traders will keep buying to hedge against...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Wednesday February 26 despite declining futures, with strengthening end-user demand providing support to the market.Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,450-3,480 yuan ($490-495) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,380-3,420 yuan per tonne, unchanged With less logistical disruptions and more workers in the transportation sector back at work, demand fo...Read More
The prices for hollow steel sections in Europe were unchanged this week with mills struggling to pass on higher feedstock costs to their customers, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday February 26.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?620-650 ($673-706) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week.Despite the rising cost of...Read More
China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Here are eight key effects of the outbreak has had on the Chinese steel industry, according to the China Iron & Steel Association...Read More
Eastern China's Shagang has decreased the prices for its long steel products booked over the March 1-10 period, according to a company announcement late on Tuesday February 25.HRB400 rebar (16-25mm): 3,650 yuan ($520) per tonne, down 230 yuan...Read More
Global crude steel production totaled 154.44 million tonnes in January, a year-on-year rise of 2.1%, according to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).The increase was made possible by a 7.2% rise in Chinese steel production, which hit 84.27 million tonnes in January 2020.In contrast, two other Asian steelmaking powerhouses - India and South Korea - recorded year-on-year decreases.Indian outpu...Read More
China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Here are eight key effects of the outbreak has had on the Chinese steel industry, according to the China Iron & Steel Association...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday February 26 that are worth another look.China's steel industry has faced difficulties in production and sales since the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, which has led to some 78,000 infections and close to 2,700 deaths in the country so far.Metal and ferro-alloy...Read More
Chinese nickel premiums increased in the week to Tuesday February 25, along with one in the United States, but European premiums remained flat, near a perceived bottom, sources told Fastmarkets.China's nickel premiums rise on falling arbitrage loss between Shanghai and London exchanges The floor lifts slightly for US nickel briquette premiums European nickel premiums stay low, reflecting...Read More