China imported 88,218 tonnes of ferrous scrap in July, a 16% increase from June, according to the latest Chinese customs data.Of the total, 66,096 tonnes - or 74.92% - originated in Japan.South Korea remained China's second-largest scrap supplier in July, accounting for 14,464 tonnes (16.4%) of imports.Taiwan (3,590 tonnes; 4.07%) and Hong Kong (1,214 tonnes; 1.38%) were other significant sources...Read More
Alumina prices climbed on Monday August 23 to their highest since February 1 last year, after trading sideways for most of this month.Fastmarkets' alumina index, fob Australia, was assessed at $305.00 per tonne on Monday, up from $301.32 per tonne on August 20.A deal was reported at $305 per tonne on an fob Western Australia basis earlier on Monday. But market participants were focused on the poss...Read More
Stainless steel prices continue to register new highs around the end of the first half of 2021 and steelmakers continue to enjoy outsized margins.They have responded in recent months by increasing their output, which has now pushed above pre-pandemic levels and will eventually restore balance to the market.For now, though, supply gaps are still being filled and buyers find themselves competing aga...Read More
A summary of China's battery raw materials imports for July 2021, according to the latest Chinese customs data released on Friday August 20.In brief Imports of cobalt rose month on month despite unappealing import profits in June and July. A trader source told Fastmarkets that some cobalt arriving in a Chinese bonded warehouse in July was immediately exported again, meaning the actual amount circu...Read More
Manganese ore prices at China's Tianjin port rebounded during the week to Friday August 20, supported by elevated costs and a drop in stocks after many suppliers destocked in recent weeks.Fastmarkets calculated the manganese ore port index, base 37% Mn, range 35-39%, fot Tianjin, China at 34 yuan ($5.22) per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) on Friday, up by 0.70 yuan, or 2.1%, from 33.30 yuan per dmtu...Read More
The domestic hot-rolled coil market in Europe remained quiet on Monday August 23, with buyers and mills split over the price trend for September, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe at ?,?1,143.33 ($1,337.42) per tonne on August 23, up by ?,?0.83 per tonne from ?,?1,142.50 per tonne on Friday August 20.The i...Read More
Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.In late December 2020, Tianjin Port Group passed a proposal to raise the ceiling level on storage charges for non-ferrous cargoes held at the largest port in northern China.From January 1, 2021, it announced, non-ferrous cargoes stored for lon...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
Turkish steelmakers skipped the first working day of the week with no deep-sea scrap trades, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday August 23.The most recent deep-sea trade was recorded at the end of the last week, when a steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a United States cargo comprised of 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $450 per tonne and 3,000 tonnes of bonus and 7,000 tonnes of shredde...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices have continued to weaken over the past week in line with falling imported scrap values, market participants told Fastmarkets on Monday August 23.Turkish steel mills continued to book deep-sea scrap cargoes with prices continuing to weaken throughout the week to August 23.Fastmarkets' daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US origin, cfr Turkey was...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices moved up on Monday August 23 on strengthening demand in many parts of the country, though heavy rain continued to keep demand in a few provinces subdued. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,130-5,170 yuan ($788-794) per tonne, up by 50-60 yuan per tonneConstruction activity has increased in large parts of China, such as the eastern and northern region, on clear weathe...Read More
Australia-listed IGO Limited has announced its first lithium hydroxide chemical production at Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Refinery in Australia, it said on Monday 23 August.On 30 June, IGO completed a joint venture deal with Chinese Lithium producer Tianqi Lithium. The joint venture is 49% owned by IGO and 51% owned by Tianqi. The refinery will improve product quality to battery grade for...Read More
The rising cost of coking coal has led to a sharp drop in demand for iron ore lump, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday August 23.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $136.71 per tonne, down $3.73 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $137.22 per tonne, down $3.93 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $106.64 per tonne, down $2.16 per tonne65% Fe Brazil...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
A huge drop in Chinese import steel billet bids has caused sellers to slash offer prices in an attempt to sell material to alternative markets, sources told Fastmarkets on Friday August 20.Chinese ferrous futures were in freefall from Monday August 16 to Thursday August 19 amid pessimistic outlook for near-term economic growth and steel demand in China. Although contracts recovered slightly during...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
A summary of China's battery raw materials exports for July 2021, according to the latest Chinese customs data released last Friday August 20.In brief?EUR?Lithium hydroxide exports fell month on month due to a shortage in China amid lithium feedstock supply constraints coupled with strong demand from the...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday August 23 that are worth another look.Increasing costs for long-term storage at the Chinese port of Tiajnin have added to the financial burdens facing alloy smelters and trading houses this year.Tianyuan Manganese Industry Group (TMI), said to be the world's largest producer of manganese flake, has not halted production, it told Fas...Read More
Russian steelmaker Metalloinvest and another, unnamed, non-European steel company, are in discussions about acquiring Hungarian flat steel producer Dunaferr, market sources told Fastmarkets this week.The Hungarian steelmaker's owners have been in negotiations with both parties and a decision is imminent, sources said, because Dunaferr is about to go through the liquidation process. Metalloinv...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday August 20 that are worth another look.Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau will increase its interest in Mexican joint venture Gerdau Corsa from 70% to 75% by merging three of its units in the country and selling a stake to Grupo C??rdova, the company said...Read More