South African manganese alloys producer Transalloys has declared force majeure after nationwide protests, triggered by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry last week, widened into riots and looting, disrupting its operations.The duration of the force majeure is unclear, with the restoration of full operations dependent on the end of disruptions cause...Read More
The Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt standard...Read More
South African manganese alloys producer Transalloys has declared force majeure after nationwide protests, triggered by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry last week, widened into riots and looting, disrupting its operations.The duration of the force majeure is unclear, with the restoration of full operations dependent on the end of disruptions cause...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 13 points in pre-opening trade.U.S. economic news to be released at 8:30 AM EDT and 9:15 AM EDT is expected to show extensions of recent advances. July Empire State Manufacturing Survey to be released at 8:30 AM EDT is expected to increase to 18.50 from 17.40 in June. July Philly Fed Index to be released at 8:30 AM ED...Read More
The European Commission (EC) adopted on Wednesday July 14 a package of proposals under the EU Green deal that affect the metals industry, including a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).The CBAM will apply to imports into the EU of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers and electricity.During a transition period from 2023 to 2025, importers will have to report the emissions embodied...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices gained upward momentum on Wednesday July 14 due to a reduction in steel production in several provinces.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,180-5,220 yuan ($800-806) per tonne, up by 100-120 yuan per tonneThe China Iron & Steel Association (Cisa) reports that steel production dropped sharply in early July, posting a second consecutive 10-day...Read More
Shipments of cobalt hydroxide from South Africa are likely to be delayed due to serious civil strife in the country; most market participants preferred to hold back activity until the effects on the markets become clearer.The civil strife in South Africa, with significant incidents in KwaZula-Natal province in eastern South Africa, was sparked by the jailing of former South African president Jacob...Read More
Metal held outside of London Metal Exchange warehouses fell for the third month in a row to just above 1 million tonnes in May, according to data released by the LME, with the amount aluminium and copper falling by more than 10%.Across all metals, stocks fell by 140,246 tonnes through May to 1,037,379 tonnes, the latest LME off-warrant stock report shows, down from 1,177,625 tonnes in April.The bi...Read More
Iron ore prices were largely rangebound on Wednesday July 14 despite activity on the trading platforms, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $218.66 per tonne, up by $0.18 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $220.00 per tonne, down by $1.46 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $178.41 per tonne, down by $0.25 per tonne65% Fe...Read More
US silver miner Hecla reported an increase in lead production during the second quarter as its Lucky Friday mine continues its first full year of commercial production in many years.The company's lead production of 11,541 tonnes in the second quarter was a 29% gain on the same period in 2020. The Lucky Friday mine resumed full production late...Read More
Iron ore prices largely went up on Tuesday July 13 after China's June imports data was released and with relatively low shipments from Australia.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $218.48 per tonne, up by $0.63 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.46 per tonne, up by $0.86 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $178.66 per tonne, down by $2.73 pe...Read More
Prices in the British market for steel scrap deliveries to domestic steelmakers have increased for the third straight month, sources said on Tuesday July 13.They cited tight supplies, notably from arisings in car production, and steady exports into deep-sea markets, with unusually strong demand from the United States.Suppliers have agreed on a general increase of ?5 ($7) per tonne for scrap, alth...Read More
Due to a reporter error, the United States tin premiums for Tuesday July 13 were published in Fastmarkets' price book five minutes later than the scheduled time of 3pm GMT.Fastmarkets' fortnightly assessment of the tin, 99.85% ingot premium, in-whs Baltimore, and the tin grade A min 99.85% ingot premium, ddp Midwest US, were published at 3.05pm on Tuesday.For more information, or to provide feedba...Read More
Base metals prices on both the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were generally weaker this morning, Wednesday July 14, after stronger-than-expected inflation data from the United States on Tuesday raised concerns.* US consumer price index (CPI) climbed by 0.9% month on month in June, after a 0.6% rise in May* US 10-year treasury yields rebound to 1.4%, after a low of 1.25% last...Read More
ArcelorMittal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Spanish government that will see a ?,?1 billion ($1.19 billion) investment in decarbonization technologies at the company's Asturias plant in Gij??n, it has announced.The investments in new direct-reduction iron (DRI) and electric-arc furnace (EAF) installations in Gij??n will reduce carbon emissions from the company's Spanish o...Read More
Futures prices for nickel, aluminium and tin were higher at the 5pm close on July 13 on the London Metal Exchange, despite a spike in the United States Dollar Index after the release of US consumer price index readings. Aluminium's three-month price was the best performer on the LME on Tuesday, with a 1.8% gain on Monday's price to $2,535.50 per tonne. Over 15,000 lots of aluminium were traded by...Read More
Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works' (MMK) Metalurji subsidiary in Turkey has started trial production of hot-rolled coil, the Russian company announced on Monday July 12.Located in the Iskenderun region, the mill halted operations at its meltshop and compact strip mill in late 2012. "The current situation allows us to resume operations at the electric-arc furnace facility, which is a very important...Read More
Increasing scrap usage was deemed to be a key step the road map of decarbonization of Chinese steel industry, Li Xinchuang, the Vice Chairman of China Iron & Steel Association (Cisa) said on Tuesday July 13."It is important that we increase supply of scrap in the local market. We expect the share of electric-arc furnaces (EAFs) in Chinese steelmaking to increase from 10% to more than 15% in 2025,"...Read More
Prices in the British market for steel scrap deliveries to domestic steelmakers have increased for the third straight month, sources said on Tuesday July 13.They cited tight supplies, notably from arisings in car production, and steady exports into deep-sea markets, with unusually strong demand from the United States.Suppliers have agreed on a general increase of ?5 ($7) per tonne for scrap, alth...Read More
ArcelorMittal has announced that its Sestao plant in Spain will become a full-scale zero carbon-emissions steel plant through the use of green hydrogen and renewable electricity as part of a ?,?50 million ($59 million) investment.The elimination of scope 1 and 2 emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol will be done by changing the metallic input via increasing the proportion of recycled scrap,...Read More