Lead and zinc scrap prices remained relatively steady in the United States in the first half of January, but a combination of strained supply and firming lead prices on the London Metal Exchange gave battery prices a boost."It hasn't been terribly cold, so there aren't many batteries coming back in," one US-based consumer said, noting that with supply tightening, prices have increased. "They're ha...Read More

The lead premium increased in India on Tuesday January 14 with availability of Iranian lead reduced in line with the US-Iran trade tension, while both Southeast Asian and Italian zinc premiums rose for the first time since the first half of 2019. The Indian lead premium rose amid an open import arbitrage Southeast Asia zinc premium rose on pick-up in spot trading. Italian premium edges h...Read More

Lower Chinese production is set to fuel supply deficits in Asian aluminium markets in 2020, according to UC Rusal marketing head Roman Andryushin.During 2019, aluminium supply in Asia was not growing due to falling primary aluminium output in China, and this is set to continue this year, Andryushin told Fastmarkets in an interview."Several disruptions and continued reallocation of capacities still...Read More

Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Europe increased on Wednesday January 15, supported by a lack of competitive import offers and a seasonal recovery in demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, ex-works Northern Europe, was fairly stable at ?,?443.06 ($493.13) per tonne on Wednesday January 15, up by only ?,?0.36 per tonne from ?,?442.70 per to...Read More

RAPAPORT... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has unveiled a video-billboard advertising campaign that encourages consumers to learn about the origin of diamonds.Two ads featuring GIA's Diamond Origin Report and the 4Cs of diamond quality are running in New York's Times Square through February 15, the GIA said Tuesday. The new campaign marks the institute's efforts to spread the mess...Read More

RAPAPORT... Alrosa has appointed Ravil Sanatulov to succeed Andrey Pismenny as general director of its Severalmaz mining division.Sanatulov began his mining career with Alrosa in 1986 as an equipment engineer in Mirny, prior to being promoted to various positions, the company said Tuesday. In 2007, he was named director of Alrosa's Aikhal mining division, a position he held until 2018, going...Read More

The price of steel H-beams across Europe remained unchanged on Wednesday January 15, despite mill attempts to push through increases, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel beams, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?550-570 ($612-634) per tonne on January 15, unchanged week on week."It's busy and there are price increases across product ranges," a distribut...Read More

RAPAPORT... The UK has secured independent membership of the Kimberley Process (KP), enabling it to continue participating in the international rough-diamond trade after the nation leaves the European Union.Britain's decision to withdraw from the EU on January 31 requires the country to join the KP in its own right, as it is currently a member through the European bloc. Under a deal agreed in...Read More

Hollow steel sections prices in Europe moved up this week, following increases from producers, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday January 15.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?600-630 ($668-701) per tonne on Wednesday, up from ?,?590-600 per tonne one week previously.Various section producers have created new pric...Read More

RAPAPORT... Graff has appointed Marc Hruschka CEO of its US operations as part of its efforts to reach new customers and grow its business."We aim to become more dynamic, broadening our product offering to include everyday diamonds and prioritizing client relationships," Hruschka said Monday.Hruschka has more than 25 years of experience in the luxury industry, most prominently as CEO of Chopa...Read More

Access our research platformsSign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research, our latest insight, data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts.Join us for an exclusive Forum, co-chaired by SVP and Global Head of Metals and Mining, Linda Cardillo Doku and SVP and Vice Chairman of Metals and Mining, Julian Kettle – this event brings together Wood Mackenzie’s top su...Read More

European producers of heavy steel plate have increased their offer prices despite limited trading activity, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday January 15.Plate prices in Europe, particularly in the south where the majority of plate producers are re-rollers, have been driven upward by higher slab costs.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Southern Europe, wa...Read More

Access our research platformsSign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research, our latest insight, data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts.So this is Christmas, as John Lennon sang: another year over, and a new one just begun. It is the time of year for taking stock and looking to the future, and in that spirit, I have collected a selection of predictions for 2020 from 1...Read More

RAPAPORT... India's polished-diamond exports dropped 16% to $20.62billion in 2019, recording their steepest annual decline since 2012. The decreasereflected a slump in imports volumes and a more moderate decline in the averageprice. Rough imports fell 17% as weakness in the manufacturing sector led to aslowdown in rough buying. India Trade Data for December 2019Read More

German steelmaker Salzgitter has downgraded its full 2019 earnings forecast, the company announced this week.The forecast was corrected due to "non-recurring writedowns" amounting almost ?,?200 million, Salzgitter said on Tuesday January 14.Salzgitter now expects its pre-tax loss for 2019 will be ?,?250-280 million ($278-312 million), having previously expected a pre-tax loss i...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The DMCC has opened a new state-of-the-art luxury vault and safe deposit facility in the Almas Towers in Dubai. This is the second jewelry vault in the Almas Tower, which is the base of many for many of the emirate's jewelry traders.818 Vault is equipped with a secure dual control locking mechanism. Each safety deposit locker has two 10-lever locks that are accessed with two u...Read More

China's hot-rolled coil exporters kept their offers high on Wednesday January 15 although the domestic market weakened, with most of them having secured sufficient numbers of orders amid a strengthening yuan.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,860-3,890 yuan ($559-564) per tonne, widening downward by 20 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,590 yuan per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonnePrices in...Read More

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diamond miner Lucapa’s polishing strategy has achieved its first diamonds from a cutting and polishing partnership.The ASX-listed company on Tuesday reported that a 36 ct rough diamond recovered from the Mothae mine, in Lesotho, was manufactured into six polished D-colour diamonds under a partnership with an international diamantaire.AdvertisementThe two larg...Read More

(IDEX Online) -  The Jewelers' Security Alliance (JSA) awarded its 15th Annual Industry Service Award to Christina (Chris) Hackler, vice president of Asset Protection- Global for SignetJewelers at its annual luncheon. This marks the first time the award has been presented to a woman."Chris has been a close partner of JSA for many years, and has served on JSA's Board of Directors sin...Read More

(IDEX Online) - I. Hennig has launched an online rough trading platform called Virtual Broker (VB). The platform allows buyers and sellers to negotiate directly. Goods on offer on the platform can be viewed at the Hennig Tenders offices in Antwerp With the new system, buyers and suppliers - who remain anonymous - can close deals without having to wait for a sale to end. This, says I. Hennig,...Read More