China's rebar prices were flat on Thursday February 6 amid inactivity, though some optimism emerged following the Chinese government's announcement of import duty cuts for certain products from the United States. Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,360-3,400 yuan ($481-487) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,540-3,560 yuan per tonne, unchangedChina will halve its 5% and 10% tariffs on $75 bil...Read More
Weak demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China is expected to hit domestic Chinese cobalt prices and could see Chinese demand for imported hydroxide fall. But, seaborne prices for processed materials could become tight because China is the world's largest processor of cobalt, some of which is exported. Supply and stocks Production halts (Mutanda) have caused concern about tightness, but...Read More
China imported 1,623 tonnes of cobalt metal in 2019, up 54.6% from 1,050 tonnes in 2018, according to official but unconfirmed data seen by Fastmarkets. Fourth-quarter shipments totaled 527 tonnes, up 24.3% from 424 tonnes in the third quarter and up eightfold from 58 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2018. Chinese appetite for seaborne cobalt metal grew in 2019 due to a narrowing of the import arbi...Read More
Tight spot availability, mainly resulting from the extended Chinese New Year holiday, as well as transportation disruptions during the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak have underpinned the cobalt sulfate price in China. Fastmarkets' price assessment of cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China rose to 52,000-53,000 yuan ($7,456-7,600) per tonne on Wednesday February 5, up 4% from 50,000-51,000 yuan per t...Read More
Trade log for cobalt sulfate in China including transactions, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Unless otherwise stated, all prices are yuan per tonne on an ex-works basis.Click here for Fastmarkets' price assessment for cobalt sulfate, Co 20.5% basis, China ex-works,...Read More
A summary of the financial results for Finnish stainless steelmaker Outokumpu for the fourth quarter and full 12 months of its 2019 financial year.In briefThe company noted the effects on its earnings of "exceptionally low deliveries across all business areas" and high nickel prices.High import volumes as a result of US trade wars were blamed for the struggles of the European market and the intens...Read More
Restricted access to ore already in ports presents the threat of alloy shutdowns, both of which could provide short-term price support for ore and alloy, but the accompanying ore stockbuild in ports is expected to offset gains longer term. Supply and stocks Ore supply from South Africa and Australia has not been much affected much by the coronavirus outbreak so far, although there are talks o...Read More
Most ferro-chrome smelters had covered their ore needs for this week and logistics disruptions are minimal between ports and many major smelters. But logistics disruptions are hitting mills as they seek alloy. Predictions of higher prices have not been realised so far. Supply and stocks Chrome ore inventories at the main ports of Tianjin, Qinzhou, Lianyungang and Shanghai: 3.12-3.42 million t...Read More
The broad-based rally across markets that started on Monday finally halted this morning and consolidation is setting in. And, given there is still so much uncertainty around the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a pause for reflection seems logical.This is especially so for the metals markets, with China such a big player on both the demand and supply side of the equation and where dema...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 5 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the January employment report at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus for January Non-farm Payrolls was 165,000 versus 145,000 in December. Actual was 225,000. Consensus for January Unemployment Rate was unchanged from December at 3.5%. Actual...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday February 5.Please click...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange was higher at the close of trading on Wednesday January 5, breaching nearby resistance at $5,700 per tonne against strong turnover.And a positive close across the base-metals complex saw nickel futures make the greatest gains to settle above $13,000 per tonne.Copper's outright price on the LME closed at $5,722 per tonne on Wednesday afterno...Read More
A weak US aluminium market kept market participants away from undertaking arbitrage activities between Southeast Asia and the United States despite plummeting freight rates. Sustained pressure on aluminium premiums in the US was one of the main factors preventing viable aluminium arbitrage opportunities between London Metal Exchange sheds in Southeast Asia to the US Midwest. Fastmarkets assessed t...Read More
The coronavirus outbreak has not yet affected buying demand in China for imported alumina, with material from Western Australia still being shipped to China and fresh deals concluded, market participants told Fastmarkets. A deal was concluded on Tuesday February 4 for 30,000 tonnes of Western Australian alumina at $299.50 per tonne on a cif China basis.The cargo is for March loading and to either...Read More
China's copper smelters face limited scope to slash production even as diminished demand on virus-related lockdowns raises concerns refined inventories could grow. Daye Nonferrous, based in Huangshi at the heart of the novel coronavirus outbreak in Hubei province, plans to operate at just a moderately reduced rate of 70-80% of capacity for the first quarter, a company source said. A market source...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday February 5.Key drivers The price range for ferro-titanium has narrowed over the past week, with increased trading activity resulting in higher-priced deals in Europe. There was an increase in traded volumes reported, with sources saying higher-priced sales from Europe to Asia had spurred domestic European buying inte...Read More
Turkish deep-sea scrap markets went quiet on Wednesday February 5 after cargoes from the United States and the Baltic Sea sent prices down by about $10 per tonne, sources told Fastmarkets.News of two fresh cargoes on Tuesday February 4, caused a $10.38-10.54 per tonne drop in Fastmarkets' daily scrap indices. The drop in prices was expected by market participants because of wea...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday February 5.Key drivers The price range for ferro-titanium has narrowed over the past week, with increased trading activity resulting in higher-priced deals in Europe. There was an increase in traded volumes reported, with sources saying higher-priced sales from Europe to Asia had spurred domestic European buying inte...Read More
The Asian scrap market is resting in a mid-week slump on Wednesday February 5 on the back of a string of Wuhan coronavirus-related fears.Shippers are now awaiting more announcements of mandatory quarantine periods - of up to 14 days - for vessels inbound to discharge ports.Key northern Vietnam port Hai Phong has stipulated that any vessels that have visited Chinese ports (excluding Hong Kong) in t...Read More