Market participants are anticipating a very bearish demand outlook for the iron ore market and are doubtful of any form of price rebound until at least the first quarter of 2022.Weak demand for iron ore has been the primary driver of slumping seaborne cargo prices. This is largely due to ongoing steel-output curbs in several provinces in China, an impact that is likely to intensify with the latest...Read More
Further reductions in Chinese steel mill operations due to ongoing power shortages are likely to hamper demand for imported semi-finished steel and steel scrap in the country, sources told Fastmarkets this week.Draconian restrictions on power supplies in China have led to a raft of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers and re-rollers in key provinces such as Jiangsu, Yunnan and Zhejiang to either...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices fell on Tuesday September 28; market participants have almost finished pre-holiday restocking and more provinces in China have places further limits on electricity consumption and steelmaking production, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $112.06 per tonne, down $7.25 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $113.45 per tonne, down $...Read More
Approximately 20 workers remained trapped the morning of Tuesday September 28 in Vale's Totten nickel mine in Sudbury, due to a blocked shaft and damaged passenger lift.An estimated 19 workers who were also trapped in the facility were rescued earlier Tuesday morning, the Brazilian company said. Workers were trapped in the mine after a scoop bucket became detached and blocked the mine shaft. It d...Read More
Pessimistic buyers caused the downtrend in the export market for flat steel products from the Commonwealth of Independent States downtrend to continue in the week to Monday September 27.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, export, fob Black Sea, CIS was $830-855 per tonne on Monday, down by $10 from $840-865 per tonne a week before."Buyers think that offers will go lower...Read More
Stainless steel prices continue to register new highs around the end of the first half of 2021 and steelmakers continue to enjoy outsized margins.They have responded in recent months by increasing their output, which has now pushed above pre-pandemic levels and will eventually restore balance to the market.For now, though, supply gaps are still being filled and buyers find themselves competing aga...Read More
Seaborne cfr prices improved on Tuesday September 28 due to tight seaborne coking coal supply in the cfr spot market and active trading in China's ports, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $597.06 per tonne, up $2.50 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $538.65 per tonne, up $8.83 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $405.14 per tonne, d...Read More
Export prices for Chinese cold-rolled and hot-dipped galvanized steel coil edged lower over the past week, while poor demand kept trading liquidity thin.Uncompetitive prices and lingering concerns over the possible introduction of export duties continued to subdue the appeal of Chinese material."Inquires have been reduced further," a Shanghai-based trader said on Tuesday September 28."Bu...Read More
Copper concentrates shipment from MMG's Las Bambas mine in Peru will be delayed after operations were disrupted by a community blockade, the company said at a regulatory filing on Monday September 27.The Australian-Chinese miner said in a notice to Hong Kong Stock Exchange that its mining supply could not be transported due to community protests in...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 28 that are worth another look.The Brazilian steel and aluminium sectors are preparing for a period of short electricity supply in the coming months due to a persistent drought in a...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 17 points in pre-opening trade.Dollar Tree added $0.64 to $86.92 after announcing an additional $1.05 billion share buyback program.NetApp advanced $3.19 to $95.00 after JP Morgan raised its target price from $95 to $108.HP Inc slipped $0.23 to $28.35 after JP Morgan downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral. Tar...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 28 that are worth another look.The Brazilian steel and aluminium sectors are preparing for a period of short electricity supply in the coming months due to a persistent drought in a...Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow were largely unchanged in the week ended Monday September 27, amid high purchasing interest from distributors with low inventories and an expectation that prices have reached a bottom, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was...Read More
Market participants are anticipating a very bearish demand outlook for the iron ore market and are doubtful of any form of price rebound until at least the first quarter of 2022.Weak demand for iron ore has been the primary driver of slumping seaborne cargo prices. This is largely due to ongoing steel-output curbs in several provinces in China, an impact that is likely to intensify with the latest...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Recent weeks have brought two key developments with regard to trade policy on stainless steel products that will be to the detriment of consumers.In China, the country's stainless steelmakers no longer enjoy a 13% export rebate as of May 1, reducing greatly their incentive to export and instead leading them to focus on supply...Read More
The Brazilian steel and aluminium sectors are preparing for a period of short electricity supply in the coming months due to a persistent drought in a country heavily reliant on hydroelectric power generation.A drought has reduced water reservoirs in Brazil, mainly in southeastern and midwestern states, leading to an electricity cost spike and fears of blackouts or even mandatory power rationing t...Read More
Fastmarkets proposes to liberalize the criteria for deals to be included in the calculations for the steel scrap month-to-date deal weighted average price, cfr Turkey.Currently, Fastmarkets' steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), month-to-date deal-weighted average, North Europe origin, cfr Turkey only includes deals that are classified as confirmed, which means that at least the buyer or the sell...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In the iron ore market, supply issues including heavy rains at the start of the year, followed by staffing problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, have affected exports from Brazil. This has helped Australia gain a larger market share, but since June, Brazilian export volumes have returned to levels last seen before the...Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow were largely unchanged in the week ended Monday September 27, amid high purchasing interest from distributors with low inventories and an expectation that prices have reached a bottom, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was...Read More
Swedish special steel producer Ovako is to introduce a "climate surcharge" to support initiatives and new technology investments as its production goes carbon-neutral from January 2022, the producer announced on Tuesday September 28.The company says it has reduced carbon emissions significantly through efficient processes, the use of fossil-free electricity and dedicated investments such as conver...Read More