Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part lower during morning trading on Wednesday October 3, with the exception of aluminium, which climbed more than 3% following news of a shutdown in operations at Norsk Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. Reaching an intraday high of $2,181 per tonne, the three-month aluminium price is now trading at its highest level sinc...Read More
Hydro is preparing for a full curtailment of operations at its alumina refinery in Brazil, the company announced today.Alunorte has been running at 50% production since March, following embargoes from Brazilian authorities. "Due to the embargo, Alunorte has been forced to operate only deposit area 1 (DRS1), which was originally planned to be phased out, and the less efficient drum filters. DR...Read More
The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Thursday October 4.Base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange were up again at the close of trading on Wednesday October 3, with aluminium's three-month price gaining by more than 4% due to a full closure of Norsk Hydro's alumina operations in Brazil although lead struggled against trade woes. Read more in our live future...Read More
Prices for domestic hollow steel sections in Europe remained unchanged this week while the market considered the possible outcomes of the region's recently launched anti-dumping investigation into the product, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday October 3.Fastmarkets' domestic price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made in Northern Europe remained at ?,?650...Read More
The Brazilian government has started a review of its anti-dumping duties on imports of heavy plate from China, Ukraine, South Korea and South Africa.The duties, which were due to expire in October, will remain in place until the conclusion of the review, according to an announcement by the country's foreign trade secretariat, Secex, published in the Brazilian official gazette o...Read More
Iran's export prices for semi-finished steel products, slab in particular, dropped over the week ended Wednesday October 3 with suppliers trying to attract customers while the country faces pressure from trading sanctions imposed by the United States.Economic sanctions were reintroduced by the US against the Middle Eastern country in early August and have had a detrimental effect on Iran's steel t...Read More
Largo Resources Ltd continued to reach new production heights at its Maracas Menchen Mine during the third quarter, with the company achieving record vanadium pentoxide production and record vanadium recovery rates.The Toronto-based vanadium producer saw total production reach 2,563 tonnes of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) at the Brazilian mine during the third quarter, setting a new quarterly producti...Read More
The molybdenum oxide and alloy markets in Europe were virtually unchanged on deals reported midweek, with last week's small price recovery stalling during a week-long holiday in key dealer China, sources told Fastmarkets MB on Wednesday October 3. Market activity in Europe has been further quietened because of a holiday in South Korea this week, as well as a national holiday in Germany on Wednesda...Read More
Supply disruption, strong demand, multi-year prices highs and subsequent supply responses have meant for another year of price swings and volatility across many of the minors metals, ores and ferro-alloys markets. And now, with LME Week and contract negotiating season coming around again, players must contend with Trump administration tariffs on imports of a number of China produced goods, includi...Read More
Fastmarkets MB pricing reporters and analysts provide their vanadium market data insights and analysis, and a summary of the market news likely to dominate contractual discussions, as negotiations gather pace in time for LME Week 2018. See also:Ferro-vanadium price rally brings mating season forward TIMELINE: Why is ferro-vanadium trading above $100/kg? VANADIUM SNAPSHOT: FeV prices surg...Read More
Fastmarkets MB pricing reporters and analysts provide their tungsten market data insights and analysis, and a summary of the market news likely to dominate contractual discussions, as negotiations gather pace in time for LME Week 2018. See also:FANYA: Minor metals stocks question resurfaces following public trial GLOBAL TUNGSTEN WRAP: Chinese concentrate, APT markets continue to rise on suppl...Read More
Fastmarkets MB pricing reporters and analysts provide their manganese ore market data insights and analysis, and a summary of the market news likely to dominate contractual discussions, as negotiations gather pace in time for LME Week 2018. See also:FOCUS: Manganese ore grades spread provides further clues about price direction Chinese manganese ore market buoyed by surge in futures alloy pri...Read More
Fastmarkets MB pricing reporters and analysts provide their lithium market data insights and analysis, and a summary of the market news likely to dominate contractual discussions, as negotiations gather pace in time for LME Week 2018. See also:No stopping strong global EV sales growth Lithium producer share prices - a glass half full or a glass half empty? Lithium pricing evolution and t...Read More
Ferrous scrap export prices in the United States have risen on the West and East coasts, with bulk and containerized scrap prices improving on steady demand from buyers on the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Four cargoes - one from the West Coast and three from the East Coast - traded to Asia and Turkey over the past seven days. The West Coast sale by a Portland, Oregon-based...Read More
Turkish steel producers have resumed their deep-sea scrap bookings with a spot cargo deal, sources said on Wednesday October 3.A steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a US cargo, comprising 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $327 per tonne, 7,000 tonnes of shredded at $332 per tonne and 3,000 tonnes of bonus at $337 per tonne cfr on late Tuesday October 2.The cargo was scheduled to be shippe...Read More
The iron ore market remained at a standstill on Wednesday October 3 with China still halfway into its Golden Week, even as the Australian government published its forecast of a gradual drop in imports of the steelmaking raw material by the world's biggest consumer.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $69.24 per tonne cfr Qingdao, unchanged.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $68.27 p...Read More
The trading lull in the seaborne coking coal market persisted on Wednesday October 3 in the absence of Chinese participants celebrating the country's national day."We are waiting for the Chinese [end users] to return to the seaborne market in order to gauge if the current spot prices are sustainable," a North Asian...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday October 3.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Wednesday October 3, with the exception of aluminium, which climbed more than 3% following news of a shutdown in operations at Norsk Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil.Reaching an intraday high of $...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday October 3 pricing session in Europe.Key drivers- Cadmium demand for jewelry products is rising. Market participants have reported multiple inquires from India both in the domestic market and overseas, preceding the Diwali festival that will take place in November.-...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More