An overview of the Chinese minor metals markets in the week ended Friday September 27, and the reasons for their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in China, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday September 27. Europe The high carbon ferro-chrome price dropped at the top end of the current range after reports of deals done below that range, although most sources reported quiet business conditions.The market is expected to be relatively quiet ahead of the fourth-quarter European charge and h...Read More
Stainless steel prices in Europe have remained stable for a second week but increases will be inevitable next week because of higher October alloy surcharges, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday September 27.Because of high nickel prices in recent weeks, it was expected that some European stainless steel mills this week would announce monthly alloy surcharges for October at substantially higher lev...Read More
The following Fastmarkets non-ferrous European free market scrap prices changed on Friday September 27:Aluminium scrapFloated frag, delivered consumer Europe, ?,?/tonne: ?,?840-860 per tonne from ?,?850-880Cast, delivered consumer Europe,...Read More
The following Fastmarkets non-ferrous European free market scrap prices changed on Friday September 27:Aluminium scrapFloated frag, delivered consumer Europe, ?,?/tonne: ?,?840-860 per tonne from ?,?850-880Cast,...Read More
Ferrous scrap import prices in Southeast Asia and East Asia stayed on a downward trend this week with most buyers staying on the sidelines while awaiting prices to fall further. However, market participants were divided over whether the steady prices seen in the bellwether Turkish import market on Thursday were a sign that prices had reached a bottom. VietnamFastmarkets' weekly price assessme...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange had declined by the close of trading on Thursday September 26, below the $5,800-per-tonne resistance level while turnover was thin against an ascending US dollar index. Copper's outright price on the LME closed at $5,722 per tonne - its lowest level since September 3 - while volumes traded were light with just over 11,100 lots exchange...Read More
Traded volumes and open interest have remained high for the CME's aluminium premiums futures contracts even after spot market volatility eased this year, Sean Kessler, manager of metals products at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange said on Wednesday September 25. Speaking at Fastmarkets' International Aluminium conference in Athens, Greece, Kessler said sustained high volumes during current quieter...Read More
Alumina prices are at a two year low and market participants at Fastmarkets' International Aluminium conference in Athens, Greece, are downbeat for the rest of the year, adding that the price floor had been lowered for alumina. Market sources gathering at the annual event on September 23-25 have reported continued offers for significant volumes of alumina they "just don't need" and expect demand b...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday September 26 that are worth another look.Traded volumes and open interest have remained high for the CME's aluminium premiums futures contracts even after spot market volatility eased this year, Sean Kessler, manager of metals products at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange said on Wednesday September 25.China's domestic stainless...Read More
Alumina prices are at a two year low and market participants at Fastmarkets' International Aluminium conference in Athens, Greece, are downbeat for the rest of the year, adding that the price floor had been lowered for alumina. Market sources gathering at the annual event on September 23-25 have reported continued offers for significant volumes of alumina they "just don't need" and expect demand b...Read More
Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro expects capacity usage at its bauxite and alumina division in Brazil to average 75-85% through the rest of 2019, and full capacity to be reached in 2021, while Minera????o Paragominas and Alunorte resume normal operations.Capacity usage is expected to be around 85-95% in 2020, the company said during its annual investor day in the Norwegian capital of Oslo...Read More
Europe's battery production capacity will have more than doubled by 2025 from the level in 2015, according to Eurobat, the Association of European Automotive & Industrial Battery Manufacturers.Battery production capacity in Europe will increase to at least 1,000GWh by 2025 from 440GWh in 2015, according to Gert Meylemans, the group's senior communications manager, speaking at Fastmarkets' Battery...Read More
The Turkish steel mills have continued to book deep-sea scrap for November shipments, keeping prices fairly stable, sources said on Thursday September 26.A steel mill in the Izmir region booked a Baltic Sea cargo on Thursday, comprising 30,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $223.50 per tonne and 5,000 tonnes of bonus at $233 per tonne cfr.Another steel mill in the Marmara region also booked a Baltic...Read More
Fastmarkets is extending until October 15 the consultation period for its proposal to discontinue five of its precious metals prices.Fastmarkets made this decision because the responses received to date have identified a need to conduct more in-depth consultation into the usage of and need for these prices.The prices being proposed for discontinuation are as follows:Platinum min 99.9% Europe Free...Read More
The acquisition of processed graphite represents a potential reputational risk for participants in the battery sector, according to Adam Panayi, managing director of battery analyst RHO Motion."There are reputational issues surrounding graphite processing, as well as cobalt," Panayi said at Fastmarkets' Battery Materials Europe 2019 conference in Amsterdam, September 26-27. "The leaching process o...Read More
Europe's battery production capacity will have more than doubled by 2025 from the level in 2015, according to Eurobat, the Association of European Automotive & Industrial Battery Manufacturers.Battery production capacity in Europe will increase to at least 1,000GWh by 2025 from 440GWh in 2015, according to Gert Meylemans, the group's senior communications manager, speaking at Fastmarkets' Battery...Read More
Domestic price sentiment in Europe for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) has fallen over the past week due to slow market activity, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday September 26.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HDG, domestic, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?520-550 ($571-604) per tonne ex-works on September 25, down from ?,?550-570 per tonne ex-works. The assessment reflected deals an...Read More
European domestic prices for heavy steel plate have moved down across the region over the past week due to low buying activity, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday September 26."The market is slow and buyers expect prices to decline further," a representative of a European mill said. "Generally, the outlook is gloomy, because the situation in coil products across Europe is also pessimistic."Price...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices fell further on Thursday September 26 amid weak demand despite mills in some parts of the country being subjected to steelmaking curbs.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,600-3,630 yuan ($505-509) per tonne, down 20-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,550 yuan per tonne, down 50 yuan per tonneA Shanghai-based trader said trading thinned in comparison with W...Read More