Albemarle Corp has entered into an exclusive deal with Australian miner Mineral Resources (MRL) that may lead to the development of new battery-grade lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia.The companies have agreed to consider the creation of a joint venture that would own and operate the Wodgina hard rock lithium mine and ultimately develop an integrated lithium hydroxide operation at the s...Read More
The London Metal Exchange is planning to launch a lithium contract in the second half of 2019 to meet growing demand from the electric vehicle industry, Fastmarkets learned during Asia Copper Week in Shanghai. The contract, announced as part of the exchange's Strategic Pathway in September 2017, will be settled against an index price, with Fastmarkets MB's lithium spot price index one of those bei...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in Northern Europe remained unchanged this week, even as feedstock prices continued to fall, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday November 21. Fastmarkets' domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe was ?,?640-660 ($731-753) per tonne delivered on November 21, unchanged week on week.Although feedstock prices co...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices continued to fall on Wednesday November 21, breaking away from last week's stability, amid pessimism over the country's economic and industrial growth.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,760-3,780 yuan ($541-544) per tonne, down 30-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,690-3,710 yuan per tonne, down 70-80 yuan per tonneWhile HRC prices hovered above 3,800 yuan...Read More
China's ferrous futures increased during morning trading on Wednesday November 21, with sentiment improving, especially when it came to steel contracts.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange January rebar: 3,686 yuan ($531) per tonne, up 63 yuan per tonneJanuary hot-rolled coil: 3,583 yuan per tonne, up 76 yuan per tonneDalian Commodity Exchange January iron ore: 511 yu...Read More
European prices for mesh-quality wire rod were flat across the Northern and Southern parts of the continent on Wednesday November 21, while concerns over the import quotas imposed by the European Commission (EC) continued to grow.Fastmarkets' weekly domestic price assessments for mesh-quality wire rod in both Southern and Northern Europe stayed at ?,?540-560 ($616-639) per tonne delivered on Wedne...Read More
The price for rebar produced and delivered in Southern Europe widened slightly on Wednesday November 21, although consumers remained unwilling to buy large volumes because questions persist about the European Commission's import quotas.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Southern Europe widened upward to ?,?530-540 ($605-616) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, from ?,?530-535...Read More
The price for rebar produced and delivered in Northern Europe stayed flat on Wednesday November 21, with consumers not willing to commit to purchases during a time of uncertainty in the markets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Northern Europe stayed at ?,?550-560 ($628-639) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, unchanged now for three weeks, after producers resisted lowering...Read More
The Turkish steel producers have extended their absence from the deep-sea scrap markets due to sluggish demand for their finished steel products, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 21.In addition to their fears of renewed product outflows from China, the weakening local and export rebar prices have become another obstacle for the mills in Turkey.Rebar prices in China, in both the domes...Read More
Iron ore market participants took caution on Wednesday November 21 amid volatility in paper markets and continued drops in steel prices.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $74.06 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.59 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $73.25 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $0.59 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $78.06 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $1.16 per tonne.MB 58% Fe...Read More
China's ferrous futures increased during morning trading on Wednesday November 21, with sentiment improving, especially when it came to steel contracts.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange January rebar: 3,686 yuan ($531) per tonne, up 63 yuan per tonneJanuary hot-rolled coil: 3,583 yuan per tonne, up 76 yuan per tonneDalian Commodity Exchange January iron ore: 511 yu...Read More
China's rebar prices continued to experience sharp falls on Wednesday November 21 in both the domestic and export markets.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,970-4,010 yuan ($572-577) per tonne, down 170-180 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing): 3,800-3,840 yuan per tonne, down 130-140 yuan per tonneThe price of billet plunged by 130 yuan per tonne late on Tuesday followed by another decline of...Read More
The European ferro-molybdenum market has dropped this week because of slow demand from consumers in the steel sector and from traders, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 21.Moreover, more price losses can be expected in the near term if consumer demand does not pick up, they added, while suppliers typically try to clear out most of their inventories ahead of the new calendar year.Fastm...Read More
Prices for hollow steel sections in Northern Europe remained unchanged this week, even as feedstock prices continued to fall, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday November 21. Fastmarkets' domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe was ?,?640-660 ($731-753) per tonne delivered on November 21, unchanged week on week.Although feedstock prices co...Read More
The European ferro-molybdenum market has dropped this week because of slow demand from consumers in the steel sector and from traders, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday November 21.Moreover, more price losses can be expected in the near term if consumer demand does not pick up, they added, while suppliers typically try to clear out most of their inventories ahead of the new calendar year.Fastm...Read More
Base metals price changes on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on Wednesday November 21, with positive moves in copper, lead and zinc futures contrary to the continued slide in nickel, while the complex remained broadly impervious to continued strength in the US dollar index.Lead futures improved amid a nine-year low in total LME inventory, rising by 2.2% over the day's...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday November 22.Base metals price changes on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday November 21.The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday November 21.Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were all higher during morning trading, with risk-averse investors capitalizing on lower prices earlier in the week amid a slight downturn in the US doll...Read More
Good morning from Fastmarkets MB's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday November 21.Base metal prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly lower during Asian morning trading on Wednesday amid a rise in risk-off sentiment stemming from weakness in global equity markets and a collapse in oil prices.Check Fastmarket MB's live futures report here. M...Read More