Scrap prices in Turkey's domestic market have shown mixed dynamics over the past week, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday March 11.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle (DKP-grade) scrap in Turkey was TRY1,700-1,820 ($312-334) per tonne delivered on Monday, narrowing upward from the TRY1,650-1,820 per tonne of last week.The slight change in the assessment came after a numbe...Read More
The global copper supply chain could be underestimating the market impact of Chinese scrap cuts amid the country's growing consumption, established industry expert Jonathan Barnes told Fastmarkets. "China has been absorbing around 50% of the world's copper scrap," Barnes said. "The effect of the tightening legislation is big. People have been underestimating the impact of Chinese copper scrap cons...Read More
The Comex copper price saw a modest increase in morning trading on Monday March 11 with the market remaining mainly rangebound until further news on the US-China trade talks is revealed. The copper price for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange gained 0.70 cents to $2.9005 per lb. "While the rally in copper prices since the start of the year is driven by stronge...Read More
Despite further poor economic data at the end of last week, the three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part higher this morning, Monday March 11.With the exception of tin that was down by 0.2%, the rest of the complex were up between 0.3% for copper and 1.3% for zinc. Copper was recently quoted at $6,414 per tonne, compared with $6,395.50 per tonne at Friday'...Read More
Fastmarkets will host a free web seminar on Monday April 8 at 9.30am London time to introduce the new Fastmarkets-settled London Metal Exchange cash-settled cobalt contract. Learn how Fastmarkets assesses the cobalt market and how you can manage your risk with the new LME cash-settled contract. Click here to register for the webinar. Date Monday April 8, 2019 Time 9.30am London time Join us and th...Read More
The London Metal Exchange launched a new cash-settled cobalt contract, settled against Fastmarkets' benchmark standard-grade cobalt price, on Monday March 11.Physical cobalt prices have seen dramatic swings in recent years, coinciding with mounting interest in the minor metal, arising from the boom in the use of battery and electric vehicles, and leading to stronger calls for a new way to hedge co...Read More
The export market for flat steel exports from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has softened on lower bids from the key outlets, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday March 11.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for CIS-origin exports of hot-rolled coil (HRC) was $500-525 per tonne fob Black Sea on March 11, decreasing from $520-530 per tonne fob a week before."Turkish buyers are facing p...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices weakened on Monday March 11, leaving traders with the expectation that mills would lower their export offers this week following last week's sparse trading activity.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,790-3,810 yuan ($564-567) per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,740-3,760 yuan per tonne, down 20-30 yuan per tonneSpot prices for HRC dropped...Read More
Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia increased during the past week on higher offers and bids, although trading remained sluggish due to the persistent bid-offer mismatch.Fastmarkets' weekly import price assessment for slab imports to Southeast Asia and East Asia was at $475-495 per tonne cfr on Monday March 11, up $15 per tonne from a week earlier.One cargo from the Common...Read More
Bahraini rebar producer Unirol last week increased its rebar production capacity to 275,000 tonnes per year from 175,000 tpy with the launch of a new unit, a company executive told Fastmarkets on Monday March 11.The company uses direct-reduction iron (DRI) pellet as raw material, sourced locally, and is now offering material that is officially labeled 'Made in Bahrain', chairman and chief executiv...Read More
Strong demand for vanadium as a result of China's revised rebar standard is likely to boost vanadium price momentum again this year, industry speakers said at Fastmarkets' Asian Ferro-Alloys conference in Hong Kong taking place on March 10-11. Global vanadium production is estimated to reach 103,564 tonnes in 2019, up 14% from 90,500 tonnes in 2018, Mark Smith, chief executive officer of Largo Res...Read More
The International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) has delivered a broadly positive short-range outlook for the long steel markets in March, even though prices continue to struggle on lackluster demand, largely because of concerns about protectionist trade measures."The global long steel products market is currently in a positive mood amid good demand worldwide," Irepas said in its...Read More
The Turkish steel mills have continued to book deep-sea scrap this week, with prices remaining little changed, sources said on Monday March 11.A steel mill in the Izmir region booked a UK cargo on Monday, comprising 25,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $320 per tonne cfr.As a result of...Read More
Scrap prices in Turkey's domestic market have shown mixed dynamics over the past week, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday March 11.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic auto bundle (DKP-grade) scrap in Turkey was TRY1,700-1,820 ($312-334) per tonne delivered on Monday, narrowing upward from the TRY1,650-1,820 per tonne of last week.The slight change in the assessment came after a numbe...Read More
Iron ore prices continued to fall on Monday March 11, with buyers cautious amid retreats in the futures and swaps markets.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $83.79 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $1.98 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $83.19 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $1.98 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $85.66 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.59 per tonne. MB 58% Fe Premium Ind...Read More
The CIS export billet market was rather quiet in the week ended Monday March 11. Producers preferred to stay back from the market and assess the situation, indicating offers within the range of $460-465 per tonne fob Black Sea.Meanwhile, customers showed little interest in imported billet because they considered the offer prices to be too high, and could not relay those costs to buyers of finished...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were largely flat on Monday March 11 amid thin trading, with news of the Chinese government working on legislation related to a property tax having a dampening effect on sentiment in the market.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,790-3,810 yuan ($564-567) per tonne, narrowing upward by 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,750-3,800 yuan per tonne, unchangedA...Read More
Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia increased during the past week on higher offers and bids, although trading remained sluggish due to the persistent bid-offer mismatch.Fastmarkets' weekly import price assessment for slab imports to Southeast Asia and East Asia was at $475-495 per tonne cfr on Monday March 11, up $15 per tonne from a week earlier.One cargo from the Common...Read More
Chrome prices were rising in China in the week ended Friday March 8 due to expectations of higher alloy tender prices for April and lingering concerns about power supplies. UG2 price jumps by $11 per tonne Turkish lumpy chrome ore price stirs Imported and domestic ferro-chrome prices rise in China Alloy prices rise in Japan, South Korea and Europe Alloy prices weaken in US.Chrome ore and ferro-chr...Read More
The Chinese domestic ferro-silicon price rebounded last week on short covering due to market worries about a fall in supply the week before, while the European price fell by ?,?10 ($11) per tonne after a recent tender for second-quarter delivery was settled below the spot market price. China market jumps more than 5%Supply worries grip the marketEurope price drops after Q2 settlementUS market drop...Read More