Mexican integrated steelmaker Altos Hornos de M?(C)xico (Ahmsa) has announced measures intended to reduce its consumption of natural gas after an increase in global prices.The company did not say whether the measure would affect its steel production, but it planned to gradually replace natural gas with gas generated in the steelmaking process.Ahmsa is a major steel producer and ferrous scrap consu...Read More

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday began a process to amend federal procurement rules to require the U.S. government - the world's largest buyer of goods and services - to factor the risks of climate change into its contracts.The administration put out a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking input over 60 days from federal contractors on an amendment to the Federal...Read More

Rio Tinto will test the use of biomass in place of coking coal in the steelmaking process in a small-scale pilot plant, in an attempt to cut the industry's carbon emissions through the use of innovative technologies, it announced on Thursday October 14.Over the past decade, the company has developed a laboratory-proven process that combines the use of raw, sustainable biomass with microwave techno...Read More

The Port of Los Angeles plans to operate around the clock seven days a week to address a growing backlog of shipments waiting in cargo containers anchored offshore to be unloaded at the port.The port announced the move on Wednesday October 13, joining a similar effort that began at the nearby Port of Long Beach in September.The port is figuring out the details of how it will work with supply chain...Read More

The European Commission (EC) has extended anti-dumping duties on imports of wire rod from China until 2026, the Official Journal of the European Union said on October 13.The EC concluded that dumping would likely recur if the current measures were allowed to lapse. This followed an expiry review lodged by the European steel association, Eurofer, in July 2020 on behalf of...Read More

Pipe producer Vallourec and Brazilian tube, bar and stainless steel distributor Grupo A??otubo announced a joint venture to supply steel tubes and pipes to industrial clients.The new company, called Vallourec Tubos para Ind??stria (VTI) will comprise Vallourec's Brazilian unit of cold-drawn and shaped tubes and A??otubo's division of cold-drawn tubes and parts, and it will focus in supplying the a...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 14 that are worth another look.Rio Tinto will test the use of biomass in place of coking coal in the steelmaking process in a small-scale pilot plant, in an attempt to cut the industry's carbon emissions through the use of...Read More

The Port of Los Angeles plans to operate around the clock seven days a week to address a growing backlog of shipments waiting in cargo containers anchored offshore to be unloaded at the port.The port announced the move on Wednesday October 13, joining a similar effort that began at the nearby Port of Long Beach in September.The port is figuring out the details of how it will work with supply chain...Read More

Regulation has been an important driver for the push toward clean energy technologies but industry has accelerated this mindset, the chief executive officer of Nth Cycle said.According to Megan O'Connor, the past several administrations in the United States have prioritized establishing a domestic supply of critical minerals used to power the energy transition. "Whether rare earths for critical de...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up at the 5pm close of trading on Thursday October 14 on a weaker US Dollar Index, and continuing power supply issues that were squeezing metal supply."Chinese factory-gate pricing in September may have grown at its fastest pace in 26 years, adding to the 'stagflation' growth threats moving down the line. But in the here and now, power and suppl...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday October 14 that are worth another look.Rio Tinto will test the use of biomass in place of coking coal in the steelmaking process in a small-scale pilot plant, in an attempt to cut the industry's carbon emissions through the use of...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up at the 5pm close of trading on Thursday October 14 on a weaker US Dollar Index, and continuing power supply issues that were squeezing metal supply."Chinese factory-gate pricing in September may have grown at its fastest pace in 26 years, adding to the 'stagflation' growth threats moving down the line. But in the here and now, power and suppl...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices rose on Thursday October 14 amid active trading activity in the spot market and at Chinese ports because of a slight increase in buying interest, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $125.91 per tonne, up by $1.74 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $127.60 per tonne, up by $2.51 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premiu...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices in the cfr China market increased on Thursday October 14 due to necessary restocking activities from Chinese steel mills; fob prices remained largely flat, market sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $610.15 per tonne, up $1.30 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $562.53 per tonne, up $3.07 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, fob D...Read More

Indian hot-rolled coil export prices have increased by about $15-25 per tonne in the week to Thursday October 14 because of strong domestic demand, Fastmarkets has heard.Mills this week have concluded HRC export bookings at prices in the range of $860-870 per tonne fob, mainly to destinations in the Middle East. This was about $15-25 per tonne higher compared with previous bookings in the range of...Read More

Rising expectations for US holiday season as retailers see strong sales momentum. Major jewelers carrying good inventory and hoping to capitalize on shipping delays affecting electronics and appliances. Signet Jewelers raises 4Q forecast, agrees to buy Diamonds Direct for $490M. LVMH 3Q jewelry sales +125% to $2.5B, buoyed by Tiffany acquisition. China outlook cautious after drop in domestic touri...Read More

The European Commission (EC) has extended anti-dumping duties on imports of wire rod from China until 2026, the Official Journal of the European Union said on October 13.The EC concluded that dumping would likely recur if the current measures were allowed to lapse. This followed an expiry review lodged by the European steel association, Eurofer, in July 2020 on behalf of...Read More

RAPAPORT... De Beers' joint venture with the Namibian government has secured a new long-term business plan that will generate an extra 20 years of production from the country's land-based mining operations.Namdeb's land operations were due to finish their life span at the end of 2022 because of "unsustainable economics," De Beers said Thursday. However, a "series of positive engagements" betw...Read More

RAPAPORT... Tse Sui Luen (TSL), one of Hong Kong's large jewelry retailers, went back into the black in the past six months as the Chinese market returned to strength, management estimated in a preliminary update.The company expects to report profits of at least HKD 2 million (around $257,000) for the first fiscal half ending September 30, it said Tuesday. While the figure is small, it repres...Read More

RAPAPORT... Retail sales at Hong Kong-based jeweler Chow Tai Fook rose 56% year on year in the second fiscal quarter as consumer demand persisted.The mainland China business drove the growth during the three months ending September 30, as did sales of gold jewelry, according to data the company released Tuesday. However, Hong Kong also saw an improvement relative to last year, as the worst of...Read More