Base metals prices other than tin and lead had rebounded by the kerb close on the London Metal Exchange on Monday July 29 despite thin trading volumes and a stronger US dollar index.After a cautious start to the day, most of the base metals made gains in anticipation of tomorrow's trade meeting between the United States and China, the release of Chinese economic data and a Federal Open Markets Com...Read More
The rise in Chinese ferro-vanadium prices continued to be the principal driver for the European market in the week ended Friday July 26, pushing prices above $30 per kg. Chinese, European ferro-vanadium prices continue to climb on improved sentiment V2O5 price in China moves up 3.1% amid tightness, but Europe lags behind US prices unchanged on quiet spot market.Despite the lack of transactions, th...Read More
Prices for UG2 chrome ore in China rose strongly for the second consecutive week over the seven days ended Friday July 26, but weak profitability for smelters raised questions about the durability of this recovery. UG2 ore market in China increases by $7 per tonne Domestic spot alloy price rises in China, imported alloy stable High carbon alloy prices in Europe, US stableThe chrome ore price conti...Read More
Norsk Hydro learned some important lessons from its experiences following heavy rainfall at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil, particularly the need to improve community relations, chief executive officer Hilde Merete Aasheim said. Alunorte has been a "very difficult situation" for Hydro for the past 18 months, she told Fastmarkets during an interview in New YorkHeavy rainfall in Par?? in February l...Read More
Concerns about a possible round of auction for indium stocks held by the defunct Fanya Metal Exchange in the coming months re-emerged among Chinese market participants after the Southwest China's Kunming Superior People's Court announced the second trial result in an open court on Friday July 26, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.Kunming Superior People's Court decided to uphold the earlie...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday July 26 ChinaKey drivers The Chinese silicon export price has stabilized after a run of losses, with signs of stability in underpinning domestic market sentiment. The domestic market is reaching a floor, with silicon refiners tightening the spot material supply in response to continuing profit losses.Secondary aluminiu...Read More
Turkish steel mills have reported no bookings in the deep-sea scrap markets at the start of this week although they were still need to buy more material for August, sources said on Monday July 29.After booking four deep-sea cargoes last week, the mills stepped out of the deep-sea markets because of weak demand for finished long steel, those sources added."I believe the mills will need to buy few m...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices have remained unchanged over the past week because of the slowness of the finished steel markets in summer, sources said on Monday July 29.Almost all of the mills kept their buy prices for local scrap unchanged from the previous week.Only ID??, the long steel mill in the Izmir region,...Read More
The discount for No2-grade copper scrap in China widened this month on higher availability because Chinese buyers have quickly used up the import quotas granted by the government.The value for copper scrap No2 copper (birch/cliff), imported into China, 94-96%, LME/Comex discount, cif China, was $0.32-0.36 per lb on Monday July 29, compared with $0.29-0.35 per lb on June 24.Scrap material from Sout...Read More
With economic growth still deteriorating - the United States' second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) came in at 2.1%, compared with 3.1% in the first quarter - the markets have little to cheer about this morning, Monday July 29.Economic headwinds, geopolitical tension in the Middle East and in Hong Kong, combined with some record equity levels make for an unstable market platform.A likely US...Read More
Spot cobalt prices continued to grind lower in the international market in the week ending July 26, with traders showing a limited appetite to restock despite prices sitting at multi-year lows. Fastmarkets assessed the alloy-grade cobalt price, in-whs Rotterdam, at $12.45-13 per lb on Friday July 26, a fall of 0.8% from the previous assessment. Fastmarkets assessed the price for standard-grade cob...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil sellers cut prices on Monday July 29 amid weak demand, while the news that the government will exempt some companies from winter production cuts also weighed on market sentiment.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,830-3,840 yuan ($557-558) per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,820 yuan per tonneSpot prices nationwide dropped following lo...Read More
Merchant bar quality (MBQ) steel prices in the United States remained flat month over month, although some sources reported seeing improved market activity in certain regions of the country.Fastmarkets monthly assessment for steel bar 2 x 2 x 1/4 -inch angle merchant products, fob mill US, remained at a 16-month low of $33.80 per hundredweight ($676 per short ton) on Friday July 26 after falling...Read More
The Saudi Arabian government is planning to impose a new export duty on steel rebar, market participants told Fastmarkets on Monday July 29.No official announcement about a new duty had been made before the story was published in a local newspaper, which quoted a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce & Investment saying that the government will impose the duty soon.The...Read More
Slower buying activity and lower bids from customers have forced CIS wire rod suppliers to reduce their export offer prices at the end of this month, Fastmarkets learnt on Monday July 29.Russia-origin wire rod was available to foreign customers at $490 per tonne fob Black Sea, down by $10 per tonne week on week. A European trader was bidding around $485 per tonne fob. But this price was rejected b...Read More
Turkish steel mills have reported no bookings in the deep-sea scrap markets at the start of this week although they were still need to buy more material for August, sources said on Monday July 29.After booking four deep-sea cargoes last week, the mills stepped out of the deep-sea markets because of weak demand for finished long steel, those sources added."I believe the mills will need to buy few m...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices have remained unchanged over the past week because of the slowness of the finished steel markets in summer, sources said on Monday July 29.Almost all of the mills kept their buy prices for local scrap unchanged from the previous week.Only ID??, the long steel mill in the Izmir region,...Read More
Singapore Exchange's (SGX) 65% Fe iron ore derivative contract hit a monthly-traded volume of 2.0397 million tonnes as on Monday July 29, the highest since the contract's launch on December 3, 2018.Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $117.99 per tonne, down $0.32 per tonne. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines, cfr Qingdao: $1117.91 per t...Read More
Prices for UG2 chrome ore in China rose strongly for the second consecutive week over the seven days ended Friday July 26, but weak profitability for smelters raised questions about the durability of this recovery. UG2 ore market in China increases by $7 per tonne Domestic spot alloy price rises in China, imported alloy stable High carbon alloy prices in Europe, US stableThe chrome ore price conti...Read More
The monthly European alloy steel surcharges for August have increased from the levels for July following a recent surge in nickel prices, Fastmarkets heard on Monday July 29.Fsatmarkets' stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm grade 304 alloy surcharge, domestic, Europe, is likely to rise to ?,?1,337-1,382 ($1,487-1,537) per tonne for August, according to data released by Outokumpu, Acerinox and Ap...Read More