China's rebar prices rebounded on Tuesday June 11 after Beijing urged local governments to issue special bonds to support economic growth and maintain a reasonable level of liquidity in the market.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,900-3,940 yuan ($563-569) per tonne, up 30-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,800-3,860 yuan per tonne, widened upward by 20 yuan per tonneThe State Council...Read More
Brazilian production of light vehicles increased by 29.9% year on year in May due to a recovery in domestic consumption.The country produced 275,700 units in May, up from 212,300 units a year earlier, according to figures released by national car association Anfavea late last week.The increase in production was mainly due to a continuing recovery in domestic market consumption, Anfavea said.....Read More
Eastern China's Shagang has lowered the list prices for its rebar and wire rod booked and shipped in mid-June. The mill is selling its HRB400 16-25mm rebar at 4,070 yuan ($588) per tonne over the June 11-20 period, down 180 yuan per tonne from its last...Read More
China's finished steel exports fell in May on both a year-on-year basis as well as when compared with the preceding month. The country shipped 5.74 million tonnes of finished steel abroad last month, down 16.5% from a year earlier, according preliminary Chinese customs data released on Monday June 10.Last month's exports are also...Read More
Domestic rebar prices in Brazil fell during May as leading steelmakers battle with new participants for market share amid low domestic demand, retreating from announced price increases.Fastmarkets' domestic rebar price assessment was 2,450-2,600 Reais per tonne delivered on June 7, down from 2,600-2,720 Reais per tonne a month prior. The bottom of the price range is at its lowest for this year.Lon...Read More
The duty-paid aluminium premium in Rotterdam edged higher on Tuesday June 11, supported by an uptick in demand. Sustained wide contango levels on nearby London Metal Exchange spreads motivated traders to hold on to metal, keeping premiums flat elsewhere. Duty-paid Rotterdam premium ticks higher, sentiment bullish US Midwest premium holds on steady fundamentals Premiums flat across Asia Brazil prem...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday June 11.Please click...Read More
Prices for flat steel products imported into the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia remained steady over the past week during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, sources said on Tuesday June 11.The observance of Ramadan among Muslim communities typically results in shorter working days and reduced demand for materials. Ramadan began early in May a...Read More
Base metals on the London Metal Exchange mostly traded up during afternoon trading on Tuesday June 11 amid rumors that the United States Federal Reserve will cut interest rates as early as July 2019.This move should shore up central banks in a weakening global economy and support the equities markets that the metals seem to be following, which is facilitating price rises across the complex."The me...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday June 11 that are worth another look.Operations at the Nchanga copper smelter, the largest in Zambia by capacity, have been completely suspended during a dispute between the country's government and Indian company Vedanta, the majority owner of smelter operator Konkola Copper Mines, local media reported on Tuesday June 11. G...Read More
South32's decision to review the future of its manganese alloy assets comes as little surprise to fellow manganese alloy producers because they are likely to be considering similar options. The review, which could result in the divestment of the assets, reflects a wider predicament affecting alloy producers struggling with historically high ore prices and a subdued market for their own product. So...Read More
The London Metal Exchange has decided on a dispute over when the load-in, load-out (LILO) rule should have been activated, ruling in favor of warehouse company Istim. People familiar with the situation said that the warehousing firm had been found to have acted vigorously and without delay in its dealings with Glencore at its warehouses in Port Klang, Malaysia, following large cancellations of alu...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices soared on Tuesday June 11 in line with spikes in the futures prices amid bullishness triggered by more supply issues in Australia and economic stimulus in China.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $106.61 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $5.10 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $105.41 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $5.10 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $109....Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices bounced back on Tuesday June 11 amid robust trading supported by rebounding futures.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,840-3,850 yuan ($554-556) per tonne, up 20-30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,780-3,800 yuan per tonne, up 40-50 yuan per tonneTrading activity rose during the day amid gains in the futures market, in contrast with the subdued buy...Read More
Thin trading kept prices for seaborne coking coal largely stable on Tuesday June 11.A June-loading cargo of a top Australian brand was being negotiated for a trade against the June average of an index at a premium of around 4% during the day, sources said. No transaction was finalized at the time of writing.A shipment of lower-ranked second-tier hard coking coal, scheduled for loading at the end o...Read More
Prices for imported steel billet and domestic rebar in the United Arab Emirates have gone down over the past week, while rebar import prices have remained stable, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday June 11.Domestic rebarThe demand for local rebar was weak, because the country has just finished observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.The observance of Ramadan in Muslim communities and countrie...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices soared on Tuesday June 11 in line with spikes in the futures prices amid bullishness triggered by more supply issues in Australia and economic stimulus in China.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $106.61 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $5.10 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $105.41 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $5.10 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $109....Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday June 11 that are worth another look.Operations at the Nchanga copper smelter, the largest in Zambia by capacity, have been completely suspended during a dispute between the country's government and Indian company Vedanta, the majority owner of smelter operator Konkola Copper Mines, local media reported on Tuesday June 11. G...Read More
Secondary aluminium scrap prices in the United States have declined further, weighed down by volatile London Metal Exchange prices, softened demand and too much supply, sources said.Fastmarkets AMM's price assessment for non-ferrous auto shred (twitch) dropped by 2 cents on the low end and 1 cent on the high end to 49-51 cents per lb on Monday June 10. That price is down 9.9% from 55-56 cents...Read More
Southeast Asian raw materials producer Ok Tedi Mining announced a 17.1% decline in sales revenue in 2018 in its annual review published on Tuesday June 11.The Papua-New Guinea-owned company produces copper, gold and silver concentrate. It claimed that last year's decline in sales, which amounted to some $15 million, was due to the consequences of a major earthquake which caused a three-week produc...Read More