The following Fastmarkets noble alloys and ores prices changed on Wednesday November 14:Noble alloysTungsten MB Chinese free market concentrate 65%, yuan/tonne: 100,000-102,000...Read More
The following Fastmarkets minor metals prices changed on Wednesday November 14:Antimony MB free market regulus, $/tonne: $8,100-8,300 per tonne from $8,150-8,350Antimony MMTA standard grade II, $/tonne: $8,050-8,250 per tonne from $8,100-8,300Antimony MB Chinese free market MMTA standard grade II, yuan/tonne: 50,200-51,000 yuan per tonne from 50,000-50,500 yuanCobalt MB...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday November 14. Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading, with prices weakened by a prolonged sell-off in crude oil markets while continued strength in the US dollar index increased downward pressure. Falling by just under 1% over the morning, the three-month nickel...Read More
Vanadium prices will find a much higher base than their 2015 lows when they inevitably fall, due to a structural shift in the global vanadium market, according to Amy Bennett, principal consultant at Fastmarkets MB. "Ferro-vanadium will not stay above $100 per kg for eternity [and] at some point there will be less of a panic to get material," delegates heard at Fastmarkets' 34th International Ferr...Read More
Ferrous scrap export prices declined following four US cargoes sold to Turkey and reported over the past week; meanwhile, East Coast exporters were mixed, with some keeping a tight rein on buying prices while others accepted dock price increases to attract more inbound flows.Three cargoes from the East Coast were sold to Turkey over the past seven days. The first and second traded at $33...Read More
Stainless steel scrap market demand continues to waver in the United States heading into year-end, further weighing on prices. "There is no energy in this market and no one seems to be interested in moving to buy material... We just keep drifting down [on prices]," one US dealer source said. "Still cautious with mill discounting very aggressive into the end of the year inventory reduction pro...Read More
The Turkish steel mills continued their silence in the deep-sea scrap markets for another day on Wednesday November 14, because of a softening rebar market and increasing scrap supply in Europe, Fastmarkets was told.After booking two cargoes from the United States late last week, Turkish mills paused their purchases. Meanwhile, rebar prices have shown a downturn with news of recent sales at $506-5...Read More
Iron ore prices were mixed on Wednesday November 14 with supply tightness and higher premiums reported for December-arrival Pilbara Blend fines.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $75.91 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.18 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $75.71 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.18 per tonne.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $78.25 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.53 per tonne.MB 58% F...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for iron ore, pig iron, direct-reduced iron and other steelmaking raw materials. Latest transaction: iron oreIron oreRio Tinto, Global Ore,...Read More
Vietnam, a major consumer of scrap in Asia, has purchased at least 30,000 tonnes of Japanese H2 materials this week.Deals involving at least two bulk shipments bound for southern Vietnam were heard concluded around $329-330 per tonne cfr Vietnam.This suggests that fob Japan prices have fallen further from last week's level of ?34,700-35,000 ($305-307) per tonne after a tender held by the Kanto Te...Read More
The seaborne coking coal market remained steady on Wednesday November 14 with offers being issued at prevailing levels.Top Australian brands were still offered around $220-224 per tonne cfr China during the day while offers for two different second-tier products were made around $208-209 per tonne cfr China, according to various market sources."Both sellers and buyers are happy with the current ma...Read More
China's ferrous futures rose across the board during morning trading on Wednesday November 14, following the release of data showing higher-than-expected industrial output in October.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange January rebar: 3,926 yuan ($564) per tonne, up 57 yuan per tonneJanuary hot-rolled coil: 3,617 yuan per tonne, up 34 yuan per tonneDalian Commodity Ex...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were broadly weaker on the morning of Wednesday November 14, with the three-month copper price down by 0.1% at $6,040 per tonne. This after Tuesday's energetic start that saw the red metal reach $6,181 per tonne at one point. Three-month nickel, lead and zinc were down by 0.2%, 0.3% and 1% respectively on the LME this morning, while three...Read More
Good morning from Fastmarkets MB's offices in Asia as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday November 14.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange weakened during Asian morning trading on Wednesday, with the release of lackluster Chinese data failing to offset the downward pressure being exerted by a strong dollar.Check Fastmarkets MB's live futures report here.Opt...Read More
Optimism continued to grow among copper market participants in the United States over the outlook for the domestic copper cathode premium following a key industry meeting this past week, with many attendees predicting a higher premium for next year.Elsewhere, Shanghai copper premiums continued to soften while the Chinese market contends with a closed import arbitrage window, while a backwardation...Read More
Special steelmaker Voestalpine attributed an 11% fall in its earnings for the first half of 2018 to continuing global trade conflicts, it said late last week.The Austrian company reported a decline of 11.2% in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) over April-September 2018, the first half of its financial year, to ?,?860 million ($969 million). This compared with...Read More
The following Fastmarkets UK non-ferrous scrap and foundry ingot prices changed on Wednesday November 14:Aluminium scrapCommercial pure cuttings: ?1,035-1,065 per tonne from ?1,080-1,110Clean HE9 extrusions: ?1,330-1,380 per tonne from ?1,360-1,410Loose old rolled cuttings: ?730-760 per tonne from ?750-780Baled old...Read More
A series of Chinese policies aimed at restricting imports of copper scrap is not expected to significantly alter the supply/demand balance in the world's largest copper consuming country, industry executives said during a panel discussion at Asia Copper Week in Shanghai. "Despite the restriction of category-7 copper scrap imports this year, we have seen limited impact on the industry this year," Q...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up acrossthe board by an average of 0.7% on the morning of Thursday November 15. Zinc and nickel prices were up by the most with gains of 1.2% and 1.1% respectively, while copper wasup by 0.8% at $6,149 per tonne. The others were up by between 0.2% for aluminium and 0.8% for lead.Volume has been below average with 4,583 lots tra...Read More