Several Chinese major zinc smelters are running at reduced output to prevent the quick build-up of sulfuric acid because a logistics lockdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak has dampened the sales outlook of the zinc smelting by-product. Yuguang Gold & Lead has suspended operations at a 100,000 tonne-per-year zinc production line this week, a producer source with direct knowledge of the matter...Read More
The US primary foundry alloy premium has hit an all-time low, with oversupply in the region the main reason for the downtrend.Fastmarkets assessed the aluminium wheel alloy silicon 7 ingot/T-bar premium dlvd dup over P1020A Midwest US at 6-9 cents per lb on Friday February 14, down a penny from the previous all-time low of 7-10 cents per lb set on December 13 and maintained in January's assessment...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
The inter-merchant spot market for light iron scrap in the UK was steady in the week ended Friday February 7, stabilizing after falling more than 11% in the prior week, with higher export prices from Europe this week supporting domestic British prices, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment of steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK was ?70-9...Read More
The price of ferrous scrap imported into India moved up this week, as the bellwether Turkish market staged a recovery, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.Fastmarkets calculated the steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India, at $286.96 per tonne on Friday, up from $284.44 per tonne one week ago - the first upwards movement for several weeks.There were no deals heard f...Read More
Turkish steel producers have continued their deep-sea scrap purchases for March shipment at slightly higher prices at the end of the week, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.A steel producer in the Izmir region booked a Baltic Sea cargo of 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $274 per tonne cfr.A steel mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:...Read More
With no let-up in the number of coronavirus (2019-nCov) infections in China, the market is this morning, Friday February 14, waiting for signs that the virus is being contained. In the meantime, it seems as though equities are riding high on the back of China monetary stimulus measures, while the metals markets are more aware that the disruption to production and demand will have a mixed impact co...Read More
An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Read More
China's battery-grade lithium hydroxide price was supported at current levels this week after some producers announced plans to increase prices to cover higher transport and production costs resulting from containment policies for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China. Some Chinese lithium hydroxide producers plan to increase prices due to higher operational costs, supporting the spot price.&...Read More
Import prices of flat steel products in South America fell this week amid lower offers from China and strong pressure from buyers.Fastmarkets assessed the price for steel hot-rolled coil, import, cfr main ports South America at $515-560 per tonne on Friday February 14, widening down from $530-560 per tonne a week earlier.Offers of HRC material from China were reported at the lower end of $515 per...Read More
Brazilian domestic flat steel prices increased this month, while producers have already started negotiating a second price increase for March.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil domestic monthly, exw Brazil was 2,470-2,610 Reais ($575-607) per tonne on Friday February 14, up from 2,245-2,425 Reais per tonne on January 3.The assessment for steel cold-rolled coil domestic monthly...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe were fairly stable day on day on Friday February 14 following the rise seen earlier this week, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, ex-works Northern Europe was ?,?479.34 ($520) per tonne on February 14, up by ?,?0.03 per tonne from ?,?479.31 per tonne on February 13 and up by ?,?7.67 per tonn...Read More
Polish domestic rebar prices moved down over the past week due expectations of a decrease in the price of scrap, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, ex-works Poland, fell to 2,050-2,150 zloty ($524-549) per tonne on February 14, down by 50-100 zloty...Read More
Indian domestic secondary billet prices have fallen by 800 rupees ($11) per tonne week on week on reduced demand from long product makers and oversupply of semi-finished products in the market, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.Fastmarkets assessed steel billet domestic, ex-works India, at 28,600-28,800 rupees per tonne on Friday, down 800 rupees from 29,400-29,600 rupees per tonne ex...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products.Latest transaction: rebarRebar East China, domestic, grade...Read More
The market for pig iron exports from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was stronger than buyers expected during the week ended Thursday February 13 despite low availability, sources have told Fastmarkets."Demand is higher than supply now, so we do not intend to reduce the price any further," one exporter said.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for high-manganese pig iron, export, fob...Read More
Pig iron buyers in the United States have resumed purchasing material but at lower prices amid the weak scrap market, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $334-336 per tonne on Friday, down from $340-345 per tonne cfr a week before.One booking for around 50,000 tonnes of CIS-origin pig iron...Read More
The inter-merchant spot market for light iron scrap in the UK was steady in the week ended Friday February 7, stabilizing after falling more than 11% in the prior week, with higher export prices from Europe this week supporting domestic British prices, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment of steel scrap 5C, loose old light, domestic, delivered inter-merchant, UK was ?70-9...Read More
Positive sentiment in the CIS export billet market supported by the recent rebound in import scrap prices in Turkey has failed to spark much trading activity in the week to Friday February 14, sources told Fastmarkets.Most customers preferred to adopt a wait-and-see approach without placing bids, they said."Long steel products are not selling well, therefore customers are cautious about purchasing...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were flat on Friday February 14, but export prices continued to drop on participants' bearish sentiment. Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,370-3,400 yuan ($483-487) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,420-3,450 yuan per tonne, unchanged The delayed restart to most construction projects due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is weig...Read More