Demand for flat steel in Turkey failed to improve in February although prices increased, but no further price rises were expected, market participants told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 6.Local producers have filled their order books until May, they added.The price rises in February resulted from increasing prices for raw materials after the rupture of a tailings dam at Vale's Feij??o iron ore mi...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were mixed on Wednesday March 6, with prices in eastern China flat but those in the north down. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,800-3,840 yuan ($567-573) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,750-3,800 yuan per tonne, down 30-50 yuan per tonneFutures losses put spot rebar prices under pressure on Wednesday, although steady procurement rates by...Read More
An overview of the noble alloys markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
China's largest steel mill, Hebei Steel, has cut its monthly purchase price for silico-manganese for the third consecutive time amid lower spot prices. The mill has offered to buy silico-manganese at 7,780 yuan ($1,160) per tonne for March delivery. The price includes delivery costs and payment through an acceptance draft, according to market sources in China. The latest tender is about 120 yuan l...Read More
Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia increased over the past week, as the nickel uptrend prompted steelmakers in the region to raise their offers again.Fastmarkets MB's weekly import price assessment for benchmark 304 stainless 2mm trimmed cold-rolled coil in East Asia was $2,060-2,150 per tonne cif on Wednesday March 6, up $30-50 per tonne from a week earlier. Fastmarkets MB's weekly im...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in the domestic European market were largely stable on Wednesday March 6 but producer-led increases could take effect soon, market sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe was unchanged week on week on Wednesday at ?,?630-650 ($713-736) per tonne delivered."Higher p...Read More
Steel beam prices in the domestic Northern European market have narrowed while prices in Southern Europe moved upward this week on higher offers and improved demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 6.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic S235-grade, 200x200mm, category-2 H-beam in Northern Europe narrowed by ?,?10 per tonne to ?,?610-635 ($690-719) per tonne delivered on Ma...Read More
Demand for flat steel in Turkey failed to improve in February although prices increased, but no further price rises were expected, market participants told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 6.Local producers have filled their order books until May, they added.The price rises in February resulted from increasing prices for raw materials after the rupture of a tailings dam at Vale's Feij??o iron ore mi...Read More
Global zinc premiums have been little changed over the past week with a worsening Chinese import arbitrage distorting the marketplace for the world's largest base metals consumer, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday March 6. European zinc premiums near October 2010 lowUS markets stable with lead and zinc demand healthyChinese markets suffering from arbitrage window. Northern European zinc premiums stay...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves....Read More
Three-month zinc was the only metal price to trade in positive territory on the London Metal Exchange at the close of trading on Wednesday March 6.Prices for the rest of the base metals complex consolidated lower amid broad strength in the US dollar index, while renewed figures on the US trade deficit continued to underscore the slowdown in that country's economy.The three-month zinc price reached...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in the domestic European market were largely stable on Wednesday March 6 but producer-led increases could take effect soon, market sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe was unchanged week on week on Wednesday at ?,?630-650 ($713-736) per tonne delivered."Higher p...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 6 that are worth another look.The availability of a high-grade iron ore derivative has brought a "whole new dimension" to the market, with the development of a forward curve being a key benefit, Andrew Glass, head of ferrous trading at Anglo American, said last week at Fastmarkets MB's China Iron Ore conference in B...Read More
Three-month zinc was the only metal price to trade in positive territory on the London Metal Exchange at the close of trading on Wednesday March 6.Prices for the rest of the base metals complex consolidated lower amid broad strength in the US dollar index, while renewed figures on the US trade deficit continued to underscore the slowdown in that country's economy.The three-month zinc price reached...Read More
The US copper market was little changed in early morning trading on Wednesday March 6 with market participants still digesting the trade talks between the United States and China. The copper price for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped 0.05 cents to $2.933 per lb. Amid positive trade sentiment surrounding the US-China, an uptick in the dollar index has...Read More
The three-month nickel price trading on the London Metal Exchange continued its upward momentum on Wednesday March 6, while the other base metals prices were mostly lower with continued strength in the dollar index limiting price rallies. Nickel's three-month price has recorded a weekly incline of more than 5% and is keeping above $13,600 per tonne, while open interest on the exchange has pushed h...Read More
Steel beam prices in the domestic Northern European market have narrowed while prices in Southern Europe moved upward this week on higher offers and improved demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday March 6.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic S235-grade, 200x200mm, category-2 H-beam in Northern Europe narrowed by ?,?10 per tonne to ?,?610-635 ($690-719) per tonne delivered on Ma...Read More
Dampened demand for nickel briquette for stainless steel in Europe put downward pressure on the top end of the premium on Tuesday March 5, while nickel premiums in the United States and China traded flat week on week despite similarly weak demand. The top end of the premium came off for European briquette after supply outstripped demand Briquette demand also weaker in US, but market diverge...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday March 6 that are worth another look.The availability of a high-grade iron ore derivative has brought a "whole new dimension" to the market, with the development of a forward curve being a key benefit, Andrew Glass, head of ferrous trading at Anglo American, said last week at Fastmarkets MB's China Iron Ore conference in B...Read More
The US copper market was little changed in early morning trading on Wednesday March 6 with market participants still digesting the trade talks between the United States and China. The copper price for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped 0.05 cents to $2.933 per lb. Amid positive trade sentiment surrounding the US-China, an uptick in the dollar index has...Read More