Three-month prices across the increasingly macro-sensitive base metals complex on the London Metal Exchange were broadly up during morning trading on July 24 in anticipation of a trade meeting between the United States and China.But market skepticism on the finality of a trade agreement continues to pervade the market despite bullish assertions made by US president Donald Trump that China is looki...Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Wednesday July 24:Minor metalsCobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb: $12.35-12.70 per lb from $12.55-12.90Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, adjustment to...Read More
German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp approved investment funds to build a 230,000 tonne per year chromium coating line for packaging steel at its Rasselstein site in Andernach, western Germany, it said late in the week ending on July 19.The new coating line will be a replacement for the current line, following a change in European Union (EU) regulations, with production capacity remaining approximately...Read More
A summary of Antofagasta's production results for the first half of 2019.IN BRIEF: First-half copper production of 387,300 tonnes was up 22.2% year on year because of higher throughput and grades at most operations, particularly at Centinela, where output rose by 36.8% to 141,900 tonnes. Production at the flagship mine Los Pelambres was up 13.4% year on year at 180,400 tonnes. First-half moly...Read More
Hopes that a US-China trade deal may be moving a step closer have given equities and US bond yields a slight boost this morning, Wednesday July 24, but the metals have not followed.Further evidence of slowing growth with disappointing US data out on Tuesday, which bodes ill for today's flash manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data, are no doubt weighing on sentiment.The International M...Read More
Fastmarkets is proposing changes to the specifications of its price assessments for stainless steel cold-rolled coil, Asia grade 304 (2mm), cif East Asian port, $/tonne and stainless steel hot-rolled coil, Asia grade 304, cif port East Asia, $/tonne.The proposed amendments to the location and quality of product to be assessed are made in response to changing market conditions. This will enable Fas...Read More
There is some optimism in the markets because US-China trade talks are on the agenda again and expectations are running high for dovish talk from the European Central Bank (ECB) at its meeting later on Thursday July 25.Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data out on Wednesday was generally negative, apart from a pick-up in Japan’s figure.Asian equities are showing strength wit...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 4 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of U.S. economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for Weekly Jobless Claims is an increase to 219,000 from 216,000 last week. Actual was 206,000. Consensus for June Durable Goods Orders was an increase of 0.5% versus a drop of 1.3% in...Read More
* GRAPHIC-2019 asset returns:* Tin price hits three-year low (Updates with closing prices, date for U.S-China talks) By Pratima Desai LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Copper prices rose on Wednesdayas news that U.S. officials would travel to China next week toresume trade talks helped to boost sentiment in industrialmetals markets under pressure from concerns over growth anddemand. Benchmark copper on...Read More
Tin's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange fell by some 2% at the close of trading on Tuesday July 23, slipping to a fresh low of $17,555 per tonne over the day's trading - the lowest level since 2016 - while copper futures failed to close above the nearby $6,000-per-tonne resistance level. Turnover was moderately light across the day's trading, with copper's 11,700 lots leading the comp...Read More
Norsk Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery has reached 80-85% utilization after the Brazilian government lifted a production embargo against the facility in May.The Norwegian aluminium producer announced on Tuesday July 23 that a continued ramp-up in production at its facilities in Brazil has been successful. Capacity utilization at Alunorte, located in the northern Brazilian state of Par??, is expec...Read More
Nickel's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Tuesday July 23, continuing its upward trajectory above $14,300 per tonne, while tin's three-month price slipped to just over $17,630 per tonne - close to its lowest level since 2016. Turnover was moderate over the morning session, with European trading hours opening to some 4,000 lots of copper and 3,500...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday July 23 that are worth another look.Russian producer UC Rusal has completed the installation of a new aluminium smelter with capacity for 120,000 tonnes per year at its Boguchansky plant at Krasnoyarsk in Russia, it said on Tuesday July 23. Rising freight rates offset the benefit of a 3.5% increase in chrome ore prices ...Read More
Rising freight rates offset the benefit of a 3.5% increase in chrome ore prices in terms of producer sales in the week to Friday July 19, market sources told Fastmarkets. Chrome ore prices jumped on Friday amid rising nickel prices and stronger sentiment around the stainless steel market. Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China, rose by $5 per tonne, o...Read More
Norsk Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery has reached 80-85% utilization after the Brazilian government lifted a production embargo against the facility in May.The Norwegian aluminium producer announced on Tuesday July 23 that a continued ramp-up in production at its facilities in Brazil has been successful. Capacity utilization at Alunorte, located in the northern Brazilian state of Par??, is expec...Read More
German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp approved investment funds to build a new chromium coating line for packaging steel at its Rasselstein site in Andernach, western Germany, it said late in the week ending on July 19.The new coating line will be a replacement for the current line, following a change in European Union (EU) regulations. ThyssenKrupp declined to provide the value of the investment but sai...Read More
Strategic & Precious Metals Processing's (SPMP) antimony and gold processing facility in Sohar, Oman, has produced its first antimony metal, parent company Tri-Star Resources said on Monday July 22. Tri-Star, which has a 40% equity interest in SPMP, has reported the facility's first antimony production after nine months of remedial activity and several technical issues that have delayed output ini...Read More
Turkish steel mills remained silent over the course of the day on July 23, while news of an older cargo was revealed, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday July 23.The market is waiting to hear of any fresh cargo purchases this week, after a cargo that was reportedly sold on July 19 came to light late on Monday July 22.A steel mill in the Iskenderun region bought a United States-origin cargo compris...Read More
Against a backdrop of poor economic growth, especially in Germany and China, and in the absence of fresh news, markets seem to be content to consolidate this morning, Tuesday July 23.This is especially so ahead of the release of flash manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data on Wednesday and the European Central Bank (ECB) rate decision on Thursday. Metals consolidate after recent price...Read More
The principal flat steel suppliers to Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow have increased their prices on seasonally good demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 22.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled sheet, domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, was 44,500-45,000 roubles ($706-714) per tonne on July 22, including 20% VAT. This was up from 43,000-44,500 roubles per...Read More