Demand for flat steel in Turkey improved in May especially in the export market, after the United States halved its import tariffs for Turkish steel to 25%, market participants told Fastmarkets. And local producers have now filled their order books until August, they said on Friday May 31. Turkish steel prices also began to increase from May 17, when the US duties wer...Read More
German turnaround investor Mutares has completed the acquisition of TrefilUnion, the French wire products subsidiary of steelmaker ArcelorMittal, it said on Monday June 3.The value of the acquisition was not disclosed.TrefilUnion is comprised of two plants in Commercy and Sainte-Colombe-sur-Seine, both in Eastern France. It was a part of ArcelorMittal's WireSolutions business, which has three othe...Read More
Brazilian iron ore export volumes decreased by 20% year on year during May 2019, with several mines operated by Vale halting their output this year, the country's ministry of economy said on Monday June 3.Exports totaled 29.02 million tonnes last month, compared with 34.62 million tonnes in May 2018, the data showed. But volumes did increase by 51% month on month from 18.34 million tonnes in April...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap markets started the week quietly with many market participants absent for the week-long post-Ramadan public holiday of Eid al-Fitr, sources said on Monday June 3.The market was expected to be almost inactive for the rest of the week. The holiday marks the end of the period of abstinence for Ramadan.The latest known trade was heard late on...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices retreated below $100 per tonne cfr China on Monday June 3 amid declines in the futures and steel markets.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $99.12 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.48 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $97.60 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.48 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $102.57 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.96 per tonne. MB 58% Fe Pr...Read More
The seaborne coking coal market softened further on Monday June 3 after a series of cargoes were sold to China.Two cargoes of premium low-vol hard coking coal, with laycan scheduled for June and July, were traded at $206 per tonne cfr China and $203 per tonne cfr China respectively, according to various market sources.A June-loading shipment of premium mid-vol materials was also traded at $203.18...Read More
Seaborne iron ore concentrate and pellet prices continued to increase last week but trading remained fairly inactive.ConcentrateThe weekly Fastmarkets MB 66% Fe Iron Ore Concentrate Index stood at $118.10 per tonne cfr China last Friday on May 31, up by $2.31 per tonne week on week.The daily Fastmarkets MB 65% Fe Iron Ore Index averaged $120.58 per tonne cfr China last week, compared with an avera...Read More
Troubled UK long steel producer British Steel entered compulsory liquidation on May 22. Fastmarkets examines the reasons behind the company's recent struggles, from uncertainty about Brexit and a slump in orders, to rising costs for raw materials.Brexit uncertaintyThe future of British Steel remains uncertain, with the UK's Insolvency Service approaching "more than 80 potential trade purchasers" t...Read More
China's rebar prices largely softened on Monday June 3 amid a gradual drop in demand. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,940-3,980 yuan ($570-576) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,850-3,900 yuan per tonne, down 30-50 yuan per tonneWarmer weather in northern China led to demand for rebar in that region falling over the past few days.A price drop in Tangshan's billet market over the...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil producers kept prices stable on Monday June 3 despite a bearish outlook in the market amid subdued demand, which weighed on the domestic sector.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,900-3,920 yuan ($565-568) per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,830-3,850 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneTrading was thin during the day, with demand reported to be r...Read More
The London Metal Exchange three-month zinc price fell by more than 2% during morning trading on Monday June 3, with fresh United States tariffs against neighboring Mexico prompting broadly risk-averse commodity investment. US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday May 30 that he would impose 5% tariffs on all goods from Mexico with effect from June 10. The tax will "gradually increase" until...Read More
Markets are nervous after US President Donald Trump opened up the possibility of another front in the trade wars, this time with Mexico. Today's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data is likely to set the tone.Trade war rhetoric escalates with Mexico now in focus Equites continue to show weakness while haven assets shineChina's Caixin manufacturing PMI holds steady; more PMI data out...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly down during morning trading on Monday June 3 after investors' appetite for commodity investment was dampened by a further escalation in trade tensions. The SHFE base metals were split into two camps this morning with copper, aluminium, tin and nickel down between 0.1% and 0.9.%, while zinc and sister metal lead were up by 0.1% and 0.8...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday May 31.ChinaThe Chinese domestic antimony price continued to fall for the fourth consecutive week after some domestic suppliers' lowered prices further to spark buying interest. Many Chinese antimony consumers remained wary of restocking in anticipation of a further price dip in the coming weeks. Some domestic antimony...Read More
After briefly stabilizing at a recent high of $16.35-17.05 per lb following a rise since late March, the standard-grade cobalt benchmark price started to retreat in mid-May amid slowing consumer demand and sellers' profit-taking.Price moves Fastmarkets' standard-grade metal benchmark price fell 4.5% to $15.35-16.10 per lb on May 29, following several mild drops at the beginning of May after some s...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe for the week ended Friday May 31. China Export prices in China held steady due to continued tight silicon ore supply in the country's province of Xinjiang. Some sources say the price can be underpinned ahead of rainy season in South China which will bring more supply due to cheaper hydroelectric costs in that region. Insufficien...Read More
Chrome ore and alloy prices dropped in various global regions in the week ended Friday May 31, with bearish sentiment in China deteriorating further after the release of lower tender prices for June. Chinese domestic spot prices follow tenders downwardImport prices for charge chrome and UG2 dropTurkish lumpy ore prices hold steadyAlloy prices slide in Japan, South KoreaAlloy prices weaken in Europ...Read More
Neutral-to-bearish,...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as soon as it’s...Read More
Aluminium fared better than its peers...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the latest issue as...Read More
Aluminium As long as the LME aluminium price...ACCESS RESTRICTEDTo read the rest of this analysis please take a free sample or subscribeFREE SampleReceive a free sample of market analysis and price forecasts.Free SampleSUBSCRIBEReceive unlimited access to all current and archive content going back to 2008 including downloadable pricing data and forecasts.Plus download the late...Read More