The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Price uptrend stumbles, but expected to resumeAs we expected, Chinese export and domestic steel prices moved upward in June, settling within the 2% range of our forecasts. Rebar prices trended downward in the second half of the month while heavy rains and floods in parts of the country meant that some construction sites had...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In previous reports, we noted that upside risks to our forecasts existed. These were based on Chinese steel production, and in turn alloy consumption, outperforming our expectations.Chinese crude steel production is rising each month in a year-on-year comparison, prompting our revised view that Chinese alloy consumption will...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.The Covid-19 pandemic and the associated impacts on steel production, mining and manufacturing activity, end-use consumption, and trade and transportation continue to dominate ferro-alloy markets. US steel mills are operating at around 50% of capacity, with similarly low operating rates evident in Europe as well. Chinese ste...Read More
Ferro-alloys prices have generally retreated over the past month, with demand concerns gaining in prominence.The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Ferro-alloy pricing trends have generally diverged ove the past month, depending on the security of the supply-side position of the market. With most supply concerns fading with the resumption of industrial activity i...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:While the ferro-alloy industry's initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak was marked by rising prices primarily in response to supply-side concerns, focus has now shifted somewhat. As Chinese activity slowly returns to more normal levels, for alloys with a strong Chinese prod...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Prolonged flooding in China could limit the use of construction steel and drag down demand for steel rebar in the short term, which in turn could damp the demand for iron ore. So far, it has been reported that steel mills in the affected regions have continued to operate as normal. The floods have, however, caused a few days...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In a webinar we conducted on Asian ferro alloys, our research team discussed the Chinese authorities' announcing some major infrastructure investments that will increase demand for steel and steel raw materials, including iron ore. Our research shows that the recent infrastructure investment announcements are equal to about...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Judging by a recent webinar we conducted on Asian ferroalloys last week, many market participants believe the steel and steelmaking raw materials' world - outside of China - will record an 'L' shaped recovery, effectively failing to recover. With crude steel production outside of China falling close to a third in April and o...Read More
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The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices are relatively stable this month, showing little change since our previous tracker. Such stability masks growing issues for stainless steelmakers, however, who are increasingly unable to pass on rising costs to consumers and are, thus, facing cuts to their margins.In general, this is due to an excess of...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices are on the increase in June. As far as this market is concerned, it appears as though the Covid-19 pandemic has had little impact so far, with prices on the most common grades of stainless steel just 2-4% lower than they were at the turn of the year in most markets.Even in Asia, a region often talked ab...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices have fared relatively well over the past couple of months in the face of the threat from the Covid-19 pandemic.In grade-304 material, the most common grade of stainless steel, prices were down by about 5-7% since the turn of the year - not bad, when compared with the falls in prices of other assets so f...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Having first hit Asia during early 2020, the Covid-19 viral outbreak is now having an even bigger impact on European countries and the US. Widespread lockdown measures have been put in place on people and industry, and economic activity has slowed markedly.For now, stainless steel markets in Europe and the US are yet to show...Read More
Domestic prices for steel hot-rolled coil moved up in Northern Europe in the week ended Friday July 17, supported by the continuing lack of competitive import offers.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, rose to ?,?407.53 ($465.65) per tonne on Friday, up by ?,?3.53 per tonne week on week, and up by ?,?17.53 per tonne month on month.Friday's index was based...Read More
RAPAPORT... Firestone Diamonds has dismissed most of its employees as it plans to keep the Liqhobong mine closed for at least a year, or until diamond prices recover.The miner, which placed the Lesotho-based operation on care and maintenance in April due to the coronavirus, will retain staff necessary for the site's upkeep during the shutdown, implementing a 15% to 50% salary cut across the b...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.Our reports, available to purchase for instant access, equip you with detailed data — by the numbers with visualisation — to enable and equip strategic business decision making. This page is updated regularly with the late...Read More
RAPAPORT... Alrosa has embarked on a restructuring at its Mirny mining division that will allow it to reduce operating costs while limiting job losses.The Russian miner has merged the processing-plant team with several other units, thereby eliminating the need for some jobs, it said last week.The move will affect 670 of Mirny's approximately 2,600 workers, with most of them moving into vacant...Read More
RAPAPORT... Poly Auction's Magnificent Jewels, Watches and Handbags sale garnered HKD 91.9 million ($11.9 million), with a number of diamond pieces selling within expectations.A jadeite necklace with a diamond and ruby clasp was the top lot at the July 8 auction, fetching $3 million. Some 76% of lots were sold at the Hong Kong auction.Other notable items included a round brilliant-cut, 10.01-...Read More
Fastmarkets MB invited feedback from the industry in an open consultation process between June 19 and July 20 on the pricing methodology for its Northern Europe hot-rolled coil index as part of our annual methodology review process. Fastmarkets is gracious for all who took the time to respond to the consultation. Based on...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The lab-grown and mined diamond sectors have "called a truce" as they unite against the common enemy of declining demand, claims an expert writing for business magazine Forbes. More and more jewlers are now selling them side by side, argues writer and market researcher Pamela N. Danziger, as the producers of both lab-grown and mined diamond each provide a more clearly defined...Read More