Import prices for stainless steel in East Asia were little changed over the past week, with trading activity yet to pick up following the year-end holiday season.Fastmarkets MB's import price assessment for 304 stainless 2mm trimmed cold-rolled coil in East Asia was $1,890-1,950 per tonne cif for the week ended Wednesday January 2, down $10 per tonne from a week earlier.Fastmarkets MB's import pri...Read More

Fastmarkets worked to empower its customers in 2018 - a year when they had to navigate metal markets in which fundamentals were often tightening even as greater political restraints were placed on trade than for many years.Here's a quick review of the key developments, which also indicate our direction for 2019:We consulted in detail with the industry to meet its requirements for greater transpare...Read More

Japanese steel plate supply is expected to remain tight in 2019 on firm demand from downstream segments, especially the key shipbuilding industry, a source at a leading Japan-based steel mill told Fastmarkets MB."Both domestic and global demand for steel plate is healthy, and we expect that there will continue to be limited supply for both local and export customers," the source said.Plate export...Read More

Demand for flat steel in Turkey is expected to remain slow throughout January, and prices are not expected to increase because global flat steel prices are falling, market participants told Fastmarkets on Thursday January 3.Local producers have filled their order books until late February, they added.The price falls in December resulted in part from weak demand in the local market as well as the h...Read More

Turkey's flat steel export volumes rose by 139.17% year on year in November, according to the latest data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK).The reason for the increase in export volumes was strong overseas demand, especially in Europe, as well as weak domestic demand in Turkey, market participants told Fastmarkets.Additionally, export prices for Turkish flat steel products were highly...Read More

The Section 232 tariffs implemented in the United States in 2018 led to a sharp increase in domestic steel prices, driving the hot-rolled coil index to a nearly 10-year peak in July. But how did the tariffs impact the rest of the global supply chain? Fastmarkets' regional experts gave us answers.ChinaChina has exported less hot-rolled coil since the Section 232 tariffs took effect, but soft domest...Read More

The pig iron export market in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) remained silent this week because of the new year holiday period, while buyers' mood remained bearish because of the weak scrap and final products markets.Fastmarkets' CIS export price assessment for high-manganese pig iron was $340-345 per tonne fob Black Sea on Thursday January 3, narrowing downward from $340-350 per tonn...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on Thursday January 3, with copper futures sinking to their lowest level since June 2017, while tin's three-month price climbed to a four-month high. Topping complex volumes, with 23,800 lots changing hands, copper's three-month price closed below $5,800 per tonne for the first time since August 2018 and was th...Read More

The Turkish scrap import market was silent on Thursday January 3, with the mills staying away from scrap purchases due to sluggish finished steel demand in Turkey. Most suppliers were still on leave due to the New Year holiday, sources said.The most recent cargo booked into the country took place last weekend from the Baltic Sea, at $283 per tonne cfr for HMS 1&2...Read More

Turkish domestic long steel markets have remained weak because of limited demand, especially in the construction sector, in addition to increased material imports from Iran, sources said on Thursday January 3.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for Turkey domestic rebar was TRY2,800-2,850 ($522-531) per tonne ex-works on January 3, narrowing from TRY2,750-2,900 per tonne last week.The local rebar...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Thursday January 3 that are worth another look.Fastmarkets worked to empower its customers in 2018 - a year when they had to navigate metal markets in which fundamentals were often tightening even as greater political restraints were placed on trade than for many years. A quick review of the key developments also indicate our...Read More

Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday January 2 that are worth another look.The aluminium import arbitrage between the United States and Asia narrowed slightly in December due to the lower ocean-freight rates only partly offsetting the lower Midwest aluminium premiums.There will be a massive influx of copper scrap to China in the first half of this year, with mark...Read More

Anglo American's base metals division will get its own executive to run operations as part of a change to its top management team, the company said on Thursday January 3. Base metals operations, which currently function under the strategy and business division, will be separated on March 1 and run by Ruben Fernandes, the current chief executive officer of Anglo American Brasil. The miner has also...Read More

Price variations between the cobalt markets in China and internationally reached all-time highs in 2018 when China reacted to rising volumes of cobalt supply from which the overseas metal markets were somewhat protected.At times, wide differentials created appealing theoretical arbitrage opportunities for Chinese exporters, but it was the sentiment and outlook of overseas buyers that ultimate...Read More

Japanese steel plate supply is expected to remain tight in 2019 on firm demand from downstream segments, especially the key shipbuilding industry, a source at a leading Japan-based steel mill told Fastmarkets MB."Both domestic and global demand for steel plate is healthy, and we expect that there will continue to be limited supply for both local and export customers," the source said.Plate export...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the close of trading on Thursday January 3, with copper futures sinking to their lowest level since June 2017, while tin's three-month price climbed to a four-month high. Topping complex volumes, with 23,800 lots changing hands, copper's three-month price closed below $5,800 per tonne for the first time since August 2018 and was th...Read More

Comex copper suffered a third straight decline this morning in the United States to begin the New Year, with continued recession worries and equity market instability sinking the commodities complex.The copper price for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange sank 3.15 cents to $2.5915 per lb. In macro news, concerns over global economic health have persiste...Read More

Physical iron ore prices rose on Thursday January 3 following gains in the futures and swaps markets.MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $72.62 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.55 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $72.45 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.55 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $74.12 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up $0.12 per tonne. MB 58% Fe Premium Index: $64.14 per tonne cfr Qi...Read More

Turkish billet prices have continued to fall over the past week in line with the weak rebar and scrap markets, sources said on Thursday January 3.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for billet imports into Turkey was $405-425 per tonne cfr on Thursday, down from last week's $425-430 per tonne.The fall in the assessment came after a deal...Read More

Demand for flat steel in Turkey is expected to remain slow throughout January, and prices are not expected to increase because global flat steel prices are falling, market participants told Fastmarkets on Thursday January 3.Local producers have filled their order books until late February, they added.The price falls in December resulted in part from weak demand in the local market as well as the h...Read More