An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Friday February 22:Bismuth MB China domestic, yuan/tonne: 48,500-50,500 yuan per tonne from 49,000-51,000 yuanChromium MB free market alumino-thermic, $/tonne: $8,800-9,600 per tonne from $8,800-9,650Cobalt MB free market alloy grade, $/lb: $15.60-16.80 per lb from $15.90-17.35Cobalt MB free market standard grade,...Read More
An overview of the Chinese minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Standard-grade cobalt prices were forced closer in line with prices for alloy-grade material earlier this week after consumers resisted paying a premium for the former, despite its tighter availability. Fastmarkets assessed the standard-grade cobalt price at $16.05-18 per lb, in-warehouse Rotterdam, on Wednesday February 20, down by 6.2% from $17-19.30 per lb on February 15.The alloy-grade cobalt...Read More
Prices for long and flat stainless steel products in Europe were stable this week, but at least one producer has announced sharp increases for March and the rest of the market is expected to follow suit.Finland-based Outokumpu announced on its website on Thursday February 21 that alloy surcharges for grade-304 cold-rolled (CR) sheets for March will increase by ?,?123 ($139) per tonne to ?,?1,351 (...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday February 22. Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia, Europe and the United States for the week ending Friday February 22.China The domestic ferro-chrome spot price rose in response to higher raw material prices pushing up production costs. But Tisco steel mill announced their March tender...Read More
The following Fastmarkets non-ferrous European free market scrap prices changed on Friday February 22:Aluminium scrap Floated Frag: ?,?1,050-1,095 per tonne from...Read More
Asian ferrous scrap demand softened this week, especially after Vietnamese buyers booked large quantities last week. Price falls in key bellwhether market Turkey alsoexacerbated bearish sentiment. Some Asian ferrous scrap market participants feel that prices have peaked and are getting ready to fall after this week."Prices have most likely peaked and should start coming off soon," a ferrous scrap...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on Thursday February 21, with strong afternoon performances in the prices of three-month aluminium, tin and lead amid a slowdown in copper and nickel activity.The three-month aluminium price climbed by 2% over the afternoon to reach its highest point since February 7, while a fresh cancelation of more than 17,000 to...Read More
Copper price moves on the United States' Comex trading system reversed in morning trading on Thursday February 21 after recent trade talks between the US and China gave no boost to metal prices.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped on Thursday by 2.30 cents per lb to $2.8970 per lb.Senior officials from the US and China are engaged i...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Thursday February 21, with positive steps in US-China trade talks doing little to support slumping prices although both copper and nickel futures held ground. Copper's three-month price consolidated lower over the morning but remains well supported above $6,300 per tonne by LME inventory which is at a decad...Read More
With the vast majority of the world's diamonds estimated to be conflict-free following the development of certification procedures under the Kimberley Process, the mining industry is now developing a blockchain-based solution to track the supply chain of the precious stones. The industry still faces challenges from insurance fraud, the financing of global pipelines and the tampering of official ce...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday February 20 pricing session in Shanghai. Cobalt metal key drivers The domestic Chinese cobalt metal price trended lower midweek due to thin spot activity following the Chinese New Year holiday on February 4-10 as well as lower offers from some suppliers who were trying to offload stocks. Mainstream offers and sales for Jinchuan-brand cobalt were around 290,0...Read More
The Turkish scrap import market was quiet on Thursday February 21 because of the sluggish markets for finished and semi-finished long steel and the subsequent downturn in prices.This week's only transaction so far was a UK cargo sold at $316 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20) on Wednesday. After this, the market prices went down by around $8-9 per tonne.The mills were showing almost no buying inter...Read More
With the vast majority of the world's diamonds estimated to be conflict-free following the development of certification procedures under the Kimberley Process, the mining industry is now developing a blockchain-based solution to track the supply chain of the precious stones. The industry still faces challenges from insurance fraud, the financing of global pipelines and the tampering of official ce...Read More
Copper price moves on the United States' Comex trading system reversed in morning trading on Thursday February 21 after recent trade talks between the US and China gave no boost to metal prices.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped on Thursday by 2.30 cents per lb to $2.8970 per lb.Senior officials from the US and China are engaged i...Read More
A correction is underway in the three-month base metals prices traded on the London Metal Exchange with prices off by an average of 0.5% on the morning of Thursday February 21, compared with Wednesday's closing levels.This morning's price pullbacks follow a day of strength on Wednesday when the complex closed up with gains averaging 1.2%, which saw copper pushed up through the top of resistance on...Read More
Canada-based North American Lithium has halted production of lithium spodumene at its La Corne mining operation in Quebec, eastern Canada, because of the lower spodumene prices in China, the company announced on Wednesday February 20.The operation has been closed temporarily because lithium spodumene prices have fallen to $600 per tonne from $800 per tonne over the past six months, North American...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday February 20 pricing session in Shanghai. Cobalt metal key drivers The domestic Chinese cobalt metal price trended lower midweek due to thin spot activity following the Chinese New Year holiday on February 4-10 as well as lower offers from some suppliers who were trying to offload stocks. Mainstream offers and sales for Jinchuan-brand cobalt were around 290,0...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Europe have moved up over the past week due to higher costs for steel slab, market sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday February 21.Although demand remained rather slow, the steelmakers - particularly re-rollers in Southern Europe - had to increase their prices for plate, market participants said.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic grade-S235J...Read More