Ferro-silicon prices in China were steady in the week ended Friday June 14 with the release of a largely unchanged benchmark tender price, firm futures and tighter availability for prompt material providing support.In Europe, the market has stirred into life after several weeks of inaction amid quarterly tender talks, while the US market softened after coming under pressure from weakness in global...Read More
Dovish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi combined with some positive US-China trade developments (in that US president Donald Trump said he will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in late June), prompted a recovery in equities and industrial metals prices on Tuesday June 18. Markets are now consolidating while they await direction from the conclusion of today’s U...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were mixed this morning. S&P 500 futures were unchanged in pre-opening trade. Investors are waiting for news from the U.S. Federal Reserve at 2:00 PM EDT. Consensus calls for no change in the Fed Fund Rate at 2.50%, but guidance toward a reduction later this year. The Canadian Dollar advanced 0.16 to 74.89 at U.S. 74.75 cents following release of Canada's May Consumer...Read More
Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange made marginal gains by the afternoon kerb on June 17 buoyed by dovish whispers from the US Federal Reserve and a weakened US dollar index, with the exception of nickel and tin who made respective losses.The LME three-month nickel price has failed to capitalize on its uptrend from the previous day of trading, falling to around $11,760 per tonne in the...Read More
The tightness in copper concentrates supply and suspensions at major mines resulting from strikes and accidents have pushed treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) for copper concentrates lower over the past two weeks.Fastmarkets' Asia-Pacific TC/RC index dropped to $54.10 per tonne/5.41 cents per lb on Friday June 14, its lowest since the index launched in June 2013. It was $56.10 per tonne/...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly suppressed during morning trading on Monday June 17 amid fragile risk sentiment. Continuing trade tensions between the United States and China and fresh geopolitical tension between the US and Iran, coupled with a slew of lackluster economic data from China, are capping any significant price gains."Whatever gains we seeing today are too m...Read More
The tightness in copper concentrates supply and suspensions at major mines resulting from strikes and accidents have pushed treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) for copper concentrates lower over the past two weeks.Fastmarkets' Asia-Pacific TC/RC index dropped to $54.10 per tonne/5.41 cents per lb on Friday June 14, its lowest since the index launched in June 2013. It was $56.10 per tonne/...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday June 14.China China silicon export prices were unchanged for the fourth consecutive week amid thin inquiries and sporadic spot activity. Tight silicon ore supply in Xinjiang province remains, however, some sources said that most silicon refiners in major production hub Yunnan province have started to resume...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday June 14.ChinaKey drivers Domestic antimony price in China remained unchanged while suppliers' held offer prices relatively firm after the antimony branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) called major suppliers to cut production to stem a price fall at a meeting on June 1. Few domestic antimony...Read More
Turkish steel mills have continued to book deep-sea scrap cargoes while prices fall amid oversupply, sources said on Monday June 17.A steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a US cargo, comprising 10,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20), 18,000 tonnes of shredded, 2,500 tonnes of plate and structural (P&S) and 2,500 tonnes of cut rebar at an average price of $289 per tonne cfr. Fastmarkets calculates....Read More
The price of Turkish domestic auto bundle scrap has fallen over the past week in line with the downturn in imported scrap values, sources said on Monday June 17.Four steel mills have reduced their buying prices for auto bundle scrap by TRY15-60 ($3-10) per tonne over the past seven days, following the lower priced deep-sea deals heard in the market.Long and flat steel...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Monday June 17 that are worth another look.Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange posted marginal gains by the afternoon kerb on Monday June 17, buoyed by dovish whispers from the United States Federal Reserve and a weakened US dollar index. The exceptions were nickel and tin, which both logged losses. A number of US alumi...Read More
The global macroeconomic backdrop remains riddled with high amounts of uncertainty this morning, Monday June 17, as the trade conflict between China and the United States drags on with seemingly little progress being made toward an amicable resolution while tensions between the US and Iran look set to ratchet up in the coming days.Meanwhile in Asia, protests in Hong Kong over a controversial extra...Read More
Trade log for cobalt sulfate in China including transactions, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets MB. Fastmarkets MB prices Click here for Fastmarket MB's price assessment for cobalt sulfate, Co 20.5% basis, China ex-works, yuan/tonne Click here for Fastmarket MB's price assessment for the cobalt sulfate, Co 20.5% basis China ex-works, adjustment to the standard-grade cobalt low-end price, $/I...Read More
China is importing steel slab from Iran and Brazil to get around production limits placed on blast furnace operations in the country, industry sources told Fastmarkets MB in the past week.Iranian slab had recently been sold to China at 3,200 yuan ($462) per tonne, including 13% value-added tax (VAT), market sources said. This is equivalent to $408.73 per tonne cfr on an import parity basis.More th...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices declined further on Monday June 17, with mills coming under pressure to secure orders.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,750-3,780 yuan ($541-546) per tonne, down 30-50 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,740-3,750 yuan per tonne, down 40 yuan per tonneA few mills gave discounts to their long-term contract customers during the day to secure orders for delivery...Read More
A top Japanese steelmaker expects hot-rolled coil prices in Asia to rebound soon because they are nearing a bottom, a source told Fastmarkets this week.While it has lowered its offers for its July-shipment HRC to the key Southeast Asian market, in response to competitive offers from other regional producers, it does not expect prices to fall much further in the wider region."Due to weak demand in...Read More
Malaysian rebar is ready to be sold into Singapore after a major Malaysian producer Alliance Steel achieved Cares certification, market sources told Fastmarkets."A major trading company had previously applied for the certification so that [it could] import Malaysian rebar into Singapore," a source told Fastmarkets on Friday June 14.The Cares certification will allow major buyers in Singa...Read More
China's rebar prices tumbled on Monday June 17 after the billet market plunged over the weekend.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,820-3,850 yuan ($552-556) per tonne, down 50 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,680-3,730 yuan per tonne, down 100 yuan per tonneRe-rollers stopped production in Tangshan's Fengrun district as instructed by local authorities in an effort to stem emissions, res...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products. Latest transaction: rebarRebar East China, domestic, grade...Read More