Comex copper prices bounced-back on Tuesday morning in the US amid news of another round of Chinese monetary stimulus arriving soon.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange gained $1.75 cents to $2.6525 per lb. "We are seeing very quiet conditions across the markets today; base metals are mostly higher on account of news of fresh Chinese...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were firmer across the board this morning, Tuesday January 15, with prices up by an average of 0.3%. Bargain hunting stepped in to take advantage of Monday's price weakness and markets received a confidence boost after China cut some taxes.The three-month copper price on the LME was up by 0.4% at $5,934 per tonne, nickel and lead prices w...Read More
Flat steel import prices in the United Arab Emirates have been stable over the past week, with demand still weak, but in Saudi Arabia import prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) fell, sources said on Tuesday January 15.Demand was subdued because stock levels in the UAE were already high and buyers have not started to place bookings in 2019, sources told Fastmarkets.UAEChina-origin HRC was on offer to...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices dropped on Tuesday January 15 on declining futures, though exporters maintained their high offers amid a stronger yuan.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,620-3,640 yuan ($535-538) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,600-3,620 yuan per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonnePrices in the spot market dropped after a weakening of the futures market durin...Read More
China's ferrous futures fell across the board during morning trading on Tuesday January 15 apart from the coke contract, which ended the session slightly higher.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,523 yuan ($521) per tonne, down 27 yuan per tonneMay hot rolled coil: 3,411 yuan per tonne, down 27 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchange May iron ore: 509....Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday January 15 that are worth another look.The London Metal Exchange will launch a discussion paper proposing changes to current warehouse rules, including relaxing queue-based rent capping to 80 days, chief executive officer Matthew Chamberlain said. Liberty Steel USA, a subsidiary of GFG Alliance, is considering exp...Read More
The import price for billet in the United Arab Emirates fell this week, with demand remaining poor, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday January 15.Domestic rebarLocal rebar producers in the UAE announced reduced prices on December 20 for material due to be shipped in January. The country's largest producer, Emirates Steel, was offering rebar at 1,899 dirhams ($517) per tonne, while Conares Steel w...Read More
The negative sentiment in the global long steel market has forced rebar and wire rod producers in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to cut prices to attract foreign customers.The ongoing weakening in the Turkish domestic and export long steel prices - particularly in rebar - amid soft domestic demand in Turkey, as well as in the United States and Europe, formed some of the driving force...Read More
The Turkish steel producers extended their absence from the deep-sea scrap markets on Tuesday January 15, while prices remained at their earlier levels, Fastmarkets has heard.Turkish mills booked some deep-sea cargoes last week from suppliers in the United States and the Baltic Sea region, at prices around $280 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20), to replenish their stock levels.Prices have remained...Read More
Prices for 62% Fe iron ore were largely rangebound on Tuesday January 15, while those for lower grades rose further.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $73.78 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.02 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $73.92 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.02 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $75.50 per tonne cfr Qingdao, unchanged. MB 58% Fe Premium Index: $65.59 per to...Read More
China's ferrous futures fell across the board during morning trading on Tuesday January 15 apart from the coke contract, which ended the session slightly higher.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,523 yuan ($521) per tonne, down 27 yuan per tonneMay hot rolled coil: 3,411 yuan per tonne, down 27 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchange May iron ore: 509....Read More
CIS export prices for steel slab inched downward in the week ended Monday January 15, with lower offers and bids being heard in the market.There were few slabs offers in the Black Sea basin because February-rolling material from Ukraine was not available, Fastmarkets learned.One slab offer from a Russian supplier in the Black Sea basin was reported at $410 per tonne fob.At the same...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices softened on Tuesday January 15 amid sparse trading. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,700-3,740 yuan ($547-553) per tonne, down 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,620-3,660 yuan per tonne, down 30 yuan per tonneRebar futures fell during the day after posting some gains a day earlier. This along with bad weather in several regions dampened demand from end...Read More
Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia softened over the past week due to limited demand amid a continued slowdown in finished flat steel sales. Additionally, trading activity remained sparse because of a mismatch in bids and offers.Fastmarkets MB's weekly import price assessment for slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia was $420-435 per tonne cfr on Monday January 14, widenin...Read More
UG2 chrome ore prices showed signs of improvement for the first time since October due to strengthening currencies in the week ended Friday January 11. UG2 prices tick up for the first time since OctoberChinese domestic ferro-chrome stalls, charge chrome inches lowerAlloy prices flat in Japan, South KoreaEuropean alloy prices under pressure UG2 chrome ore prices edged higher on Friday due to the...Read More
In China, the falling alloy market weighed on manganese ore prices, especially for lower-grade material, in the week ended Friday January 11, while the silico-manganese price in India increased. Price of 37% manganese ore, fob, falls by 35 cents per dmtuOre and alloy prices weaken in ChinaSilico-manganese price moves up in India, down in USAlloy prices in Europe unmoved78% FeMn market in US ticks...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday January 15.Please click...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were predominantly higher at the close of trading on Tuesday January 15, with a continued uptrend in nickel and tin futures topping gains while zinc and lead prices edged lower. Supporting commodity investment, strong performances in both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Index over the afternoon fueled positive risk sentiment despite...Read More
The Turkish steel producers extended their absence from the deep-sea scrap markets on Tuesday January 15, while prices remained at their earlier levels, Fastmarkets has heard.Turkish mills booked some deep-sea cargoes last week from suppliers in the United States and the Baltic Sea region, at prices around $280 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2 (80:20), to replenish their stock levels.Prices have remained...Read More
The London Metal Exchange will launch a discussion paper proposing changes to current warehouse rules, including relaxing queue-based rent capping (QBRC) to 80 days, chief executive officer Matthew Chamberlain said. Speaking to Fastmarkets MB, Chamberlain said the proposals for change have been driven by the warehouses and the paper will be reviewed by the LME warehousing committee before it goes...Read More