Base metals were mostly higher at the close of trading on Thursday December 13 amid softening tension between the United States and China.Worries that the trade war between the US and China will only escalate in 2019 have softened in recent weeks, boosting base metals' prospects. "More positive steps from China on trade seem to be easing some of the concerns in the market, although traders are pro...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices continued to rise on Thursday December 13 on strong gains in the futures market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,770-3,800 yuan ($547-552) per tonne, up 20-30 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,600-3,620 yuan per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneA Hangzhou-based source told Fastmarkets MB that a few traders bought HRC from the spot market on seeing the surge in t...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices were mixed on Thursday December 13, with those in east of the countryflat but those in the north up. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,780-3,820 yuan ($549-555) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,510-3,540 yuan per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonneStockists in eastern China were forced to keep their prices flat despite a rise in the futures market as they ac...Read More
While tensions between China and the United States have eased amid a temporary 90-day truce, US minor metals importers are still sitting on heavy inventories after they increased imports ahead of a proposed 10% tariff that never appeared.Suppliers moved large amounts of indium and other minor metals into the US due to their concerns about the US-Sino trade war, Fastmarkets MB reported in late Augu...Read More
Fastmarkets highlights six key things we learned from the 2018 Chinese Minor Metals Forum that took place in in Kunming, China, on November 27-28. Bearish fundamentals dominate domestic gallium market Environmental inspections that resulted in cuts to Chinese alumina production in the first half of this year tightened supply of gallium and caused gallium prices to rise, Xiong Tian, strategic sourc...Read More
Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia declined over the past week, resuming a previous downtrend amid sluggish trading activity, soft demand and lower offers from suppliers trying to secure more orders.Fastmarkets MB's import price assessment for 304 stainless 2mm trimmed cold-rolled coil in East Asia was $1,900-1,970 per tonne cif for the week ended Wednesday December 12, down $10-20 per...Read More
China's domestic stainless steel prices dropped slightly over the past week due to muted demand and bearish sentiment among buyers despite an agreement between the country and the United States to a 90-day truce to their trade war.Fastmarkets MB's price assessment for benchmark 304 stainless cold-rolled coil in the major market of Wuxi was 14,200-14,800 yuan ($2,062-2,149) per tonne including VAT...Read More
Disappointing Chinese economic data has weighed on the three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange this morning, Friday December 14, with all the metals in negative territory and showing average losses of 0.4%. The three-month zinc price led the way with a drop of 1%, copper was off by 0.5% at $6,121 per tonne, while the rest were off by between 0.1% and 0.3%. Volume across the com...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 27 points in pre-opening trade.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of November Retail Sales at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus was an increase of 0.2% versus an upwardly revised gain of 1.1% in October. Actual was an increase of 0.2%.The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 40 points to 2,594 after China's Nov...Read More
A historic backwardation in zinc forward prices has its first major casualty, with Thailand's foremost zinc distributor set to close that part of its business as a result.Padaeng Industry, formerly a primary zinc smelter which pivoted into the renewable energy industry, will close its 50,000 tonne per year zinc metal distribution business at the end of 2018, the company said in a Stock Exchange of...Read More
The tin premium in Europe continued its ascent on Tuesday December 11 on mounting concern for the availability of supply from Indonesia, while weak demand is keeping premiums in the United States and China flat. European premium boosted by Indonesian export freezeUS premiums flat in quiet marketChinese premiums stable on seasonality, closed import window European tin premium up before a tight Janu...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange had mostly drifted lower by the close on Wednesday December 12 but were confined to tight ranges throughout what was an unexceptional trading day.Volumes were thin while market participants slowed their trading ahead of the looming end of the year. In copper, around 10,000 lots traded by the 5pm close compared with more than 22,000 lots on Friday. Th...Read More
The European ferro-molybdenum market, which climbed almost 2.5% in trading a week ago, has pared gains since Friday in line with a drop in demand.Suppliers said there is plenty of alloy available if needed amid negligible levels of consumer demand and they have cut their offer prices as a result.The ferro-molybdenum, basis 65%, in-warehouse Rotterdam price has dropped 20 cents to $29.20-29.40 per...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday December 12 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers European suppliers booked several sales in the past week, narrowing the price range to 50 cents.European market sources said there was downward market pressure from Russian suppliers, but those suppliers have reported doing deals around the middle of the current European price range.European market expected to be stabl...Read More
The European ferro-molybdenum market, which climbed almost 2.5% in trading a week ago, has pared gains since Friday in line with a drop in demand.Suppliers said there is plenty of alloy available if needed amid negligible levels of consumer demand and they have cut their offer prices as a result.The ferro-molybdenum, basis 65%, in-warehouse Rotterdam price has dropped 20 cents to $29.20-29.40 per...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Key data from the Wednesday December 12 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers European suppliers booked several sales in the past week, narrowing the price range to 50 cents.European market sources said there was downward market pressure from Russian suppliers, but those suppliers have reported doing deals around the middle of the current European price range.European market expected to be stabl...Read More
Turkish steel producers extended their absence in the deep-sea scrap markets into Wednesday December 12 because of limited demand for finished steel products, sources told Fastmarkets MB.Mills in the country have been refraining from scrap purchases for more than two weeks now - only a single cargo has been booked since November 23.Demand for steel products, especially rebar, has been and remains...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday December 12 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers European suppliers booked several sales in the past week, narrowing the price range to 50 cents.European market sources said there was downward market pressure from Russian suppliers, but those suppliers have reported doing deals around the middle of the current European price range.European market expected to be stabl...Read More
Comex copper prices were unchanged during trading on Wednesday December 12 amid market hesitation after the latest round of global trade developments.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange was flat at $2.7670 per lb.Sentiment in commodity markets received a boost from the news that China plans to slash import tariffs on US automobiles from 4...Read More