US President Donald Trump said on Monday October 14 that he will impose a 50% tariff on imports of steel from Turkey in response to that country's military actions in northeastern Syria.However, market participants believe such a move will have a minor impact on the Turkish steel sector, because Turkey's steel exports to the United States are already limited because of weak demand.BilletA trader f...Read More
Billet prices in the major global markets continued to climb in the week ended Friday October 18, spurred by the tight availability of material in some markets, lively demand in China, and the uptick in global scrap prices.CIS, TurkeyOffers of CIS billet were limited last week. This was partially due to the absence of several Ukrainain mills, which quit the market due to unfavorable market conditi...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Friday October 18 that are worth another look.Global scrap prices in all the major markets recovered during the working week ended October 18, boosted by lower material availability and rising Turkish import prices.An increase in copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) so far this month reflects a drop in the number o...Read More
Electric vehicles (EVs) are forecast to reach cost and functional parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2025. Theoretically, this should create the global tipping point for mass market EV adoption, along with the development of the associated charging infrastructure required to accompany the growth.In practice, it is not quite as straightforward.A recent report by investment res...Read More
The world's largest low-grade iron ore producer has confirmed that it will bid for two blocks at what is considered the world's largest untapped high-grade ore resource, a move that reiterates what the industry has been saying over the past few years - that demand for green iron ore or high-grade ore is a structural change in the making."Following the release of information at a public meeting hel...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Friday October 18 that are worth another look.Global scrap prices in all the major markets recovered during the working week ended October 18, boosted by lower material availability and rising Turkish import prices.An increase in copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) so far this month reflects a drop in the number o...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 10 points in pre-opening trade.Apple gained $1.33 to $237.74 after Raymond James raised its target price to $280 from $250. Boeing dropped another $4.25 to $339.75 following revelations that the company may have withheld information on software used in the 737 Max aircraft.Hewlett Packard Enterprises gained $0.32 to $1...Read More
BHP has reported a 9.6% year-on-year drop in metallurgical coal output in the three months to September, a period during which fob Australia prices for premium hard coking coal fell amid Chinese import restrictions and weak demand outside of China.The miner produced 9.35 million tonnes of met coal during the period, which also marked a 21% quarter-on-quarter drop, it said on Thursday October 17. B...Read More
Members of the incoming European Commission, expected to take office in November, have released more details of a planned "carbon border tax", which could levy charges on metal imports into the European Union. Products affected would be those deemed by the EU as manufactured with excessive carbon emissions. While details of what will be covered, and under what circumstances, will be included in a...Read More
US President Donald Trump said on Monday October 14 that he will impose a 50% tariff on imports of steel from Turkey in response to that country's military actions in northeastern Syria.However, market participants believe such a move will have a minor impact on the Turkish steel sector, because Turkey's steel exports to the United States are already limited because of weak demand.BilletA trader f...Read More
Electric vehicles (EVs) are forecast to reach cost and functional parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2025. Theoretically, this should create the global tipping point for mass market EV adoption, along with the development of the associated charging infrastructure required to accompany the growth.In practice, it is not quite as straightforward.A recent report by investment res...Read More
The world's largest low-grade iron ore producer has confirmed that it will bid for two blocks at what is considered the world's largest untapped high-grade ore resource, a move that reiterates what the industry has been saying over the past few years - that demand for green iron ore or high-grade ore is a structural change in the making."Following the release of information at a public meeting hel...Read More
An increase in copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) so far this month reflects a drop in the number of spot deals ahead of annual contract negotiations that are set to start during the annual London Metal Exchange Week gathering. With major smelters well stocked, bids are close to the new quarterly price floor set by the China Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT). Traders, meanwhile...Read More
Three-month prices of base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, with the exception of tin and lead, were buoyed by a weaker US dollar to close up at the afternoon kerb on Friday October 18.The LME three-month copper price finally began to make gains, closing up 1.1% at $5,806 tonnes from yesterday's $5,739 per tonne close. Much has been made of copper futures' lack of reaction to tightening...Read More
The alumina price on a fob Australia basis has stabilized just below $280 per tonne in the week ending Friday October 18, after a flurry of deals over the past week. Fastmarkets calculated the benchmark daily alumina index, fob Australia at $278.25 per tonne on Friday, down from $277.14 per tonne on Thursday. It has hovered between $277 and 278 per tonne over the past week. Key drivers: ...Read More
Rio Tinto's copper and aluminium production dropped due to unexpected shutdowns during the third quarter.The company's Yarwun alumina refinery in Australia shut over the third quarter for 35 days; the shutdown has since ended.Total alumina production was down by 7% during the third quarter at 1.8 million tonnes.At $278.25 per tonne, the Fastmarkets Alumina index, fob Australia has sunk to around t...Read More
An increase in copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) so far this month reflects a drop in the number of spot deals ahead of annual contract negotiations that are set to start during the annual London Metal Exchange Week gathering. With major smelters well stocked, bids are close to the new quarterly price floor set by the China Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT). Traders, meanwhile...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday October 18. China The imported UG2 chrome ore price weakened after sales of MG grade ore were concluded at lower prices, while ample availability of UG2 in ports weakened market sentiment at a time of low demand. The spot ferro-chrome price softened on...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for their latest price moves. Read More
The whereabouts of minor metal stocks held by the now defunct Fanya Metals Exchange has been a weight on the outlook of minor metals prices and contract negotiations since the exchange collapsed in 2015. The whereabouts of minor metal stocks held by the now defunct Fanya Metals Exchange has been a weight on the outlook of minor metals prices and contract negotiations since the exchange collapsed i...Read More