Both copper and nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange were subdued during morning trading on Tuesday February 12, with broad strength in the dollar index capping gains while positive trade sentiment failed to spur buying momentum. Copper's three-month price fell to an intraday low of $6,109 per tonne this morning, with total volumes in the metal topping the complex at 4,751 lots traded by 9:4...Read More

Fastmarkets has today discontinued its weekly aluminium premium assessments for aluminium P1020A fob Singapore and aluminium P1020A fob Malaysia. The decision follows a month-long consultation period which did not receive any feedback.The decision is based on previous feedback that these markets see limited liquidity on an fob basis, with some sources noting that market participants in this region...Read More

Brazilian flat steel imports dropped by 27.48% year on year in January, while imports of long steel products dropped by 13.76% in the same comparison, according to figures released by the country's foreign trade ministry, MDIC.Shipments of flat steel products fell to 88,153 tonnes last month, compared with 121,552 tonnes in January 2018.Imports of flat steel from China amounted to 67,252 tonnes, u...Read More

Hot-rolled (HR) and cold-rolled (CR) steel sheet prices in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow rose on reduced availability and a seasonal demand rebound in the secondary market, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday February 11. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for Russia-origin 4mm HR sheet was at 41,200-41,600 roubles ($627-633) per tonne cpt Moscow on Monday, including 20% VA...Read More

The prices for steel billet and rebar in the United Arab Emirates increased this week on higher offers from producers, but demand was only moderate, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 12.Domestic rebarLocal rebar producers in the UAE increased their offer prices.The country's largest producer, Emirates Steel, was offering rebar to be shipped in February at 2,007 dirhams ($546) per tonne...Read More

The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for steel billet, slab and bloom. Latest transaction: billetBillet Oman, export, billet,...Read More

The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for rebar, wire rod, steel beams and other long steel products. Latest transactions: rebarRebar UAE, domestic (Emirates Steel), rebar, offered at 2,007 dirhams ($546) per tonne ex-works,...Read More

Dubai-based multinational Dana Group has completed the construction of new mills for the manufacture of cold-rolled coil (CRC) and hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) in the United Arab Emirates sheikhdom, it said on Friday February 8.Installation and commissioning of the necessary machinery is now under way. The company did not give a date for the start of production, but it expects to produce 250,0...Read More

CIS rebar and wire rod producers pushed up offer prices this week following rises in raw materials and semi-finished steel costs last week, but customer caution limited buying activity.Ukrainian and Russian rebar, for shipment in late March and April, was on offer at $475-480 per tonne fob Black Sea on Monday February 11, sources told Fastmarkets - up from $455-470 per ton...Read More

The seaborne iron ore market agreed on the logic behind the rise in prices on the first day of trading after China's return from the Lunar New Year on Monday February 11 but by day two it failed to reach an agreement on the rally's sustainability.Fastmarkets MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index stood at $90.58 per tonne cfr China on Monday, the highest level since March 2017, with market participants re-calib...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices fell across the board on Tuesday February 12 amid thin trading activity in the physical cargoes market, while low-grade iron ore was rangebound. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $87.65 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.93 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Pilbara Blend Fines Index: $88.49 per tonne cfr Qingdao, down $2.93 per tonne. MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index-Low Alumina: $89.08 per tonne cfr Qing...Read More

Seaborne coking coal spot prices moved in different directions on Tuesday February 12 on the back of higher bids and lower offers.On the Global Coal Platform, a cargo of unbranded materials, loading in April, changed hands at $205 per tonne fob Australia, sources said. An offer of a top Australian brand was heard at $204 per tonne cfr China during the day, down from $205.50 per tonne a day ea...Read More

The outlook for the Brazilian mining industry has become very murky following a major accident in one of Vale's mines and the consequent increased scrutiny on operations by authorities, according to analysts.After Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, announced it would be taking40 million tonnes per year (tpy) off its output to decommission older tailings dams, local regulators c...Read More

China's ferrous futures fell across the board on Tuesday February 12, with uncertainties still lingering in various market sectors on the second day of work following the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.Futures closing prices - morning session Shanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,781 yuan ($560.40) per tonne, down 28 yuan per tonneMay hot-rolled coil: 3,672 yuan per tonne, down 28 yuan...Read More

Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Tuesday February 12 *Copper -$186.87 (-1,269.24 yuan) Aluminium -$372.82 (-2,532.22 yuan) Zinc -$110.35 (-749.52 yuan) Nickel -$596.24 (-4,049.71 yuan) *Fastmarkets calculates the physical arbitrage for import into China daily by using SHFE front-month and LME three-month...Read More

China's hot-rolled coil prices dropped on Tuesday February 12, dragged down by low demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,840-3,850 yuan ($566-568) per tonne, down 30-40 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tianjin): 3,780-3,800 yuan per tonne, down 10-20 yuan per tonnePrices retreated after the surge on the day before, with downstream demand still weak as many companies have yet ...Read More

China's domestic rebar prices were mixed on Tuesday February 12, with those in eastern China flat but those in the north of the country up, while export prices increased sharply on the same day.  Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,830-3,880 yuan ($565-572) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,820-3,860 yuan per tonne, up 20-30 yuan per tonneTraders in eastern China kept...Read More

Tshipi will issue more than $80 million in dividends in the second half of its financial year thanks to high manganese ore prices that have enabled the South African manganese miner to generate significantly higher cashflow than expected.For the second half of 2019, it declared a dividend of 1.1 billion rand ($80.2 million), its owner - Jupiter Mines - announced. The latest declaration will take&n...Read More

High-carbon and low-carbon ferro-chrome prices into Europe and the United States edged up over the past week, while Lunar New Year holidays across Asia kept markets in the region quiet. Charge chrome and ore prices into China stable Chinese domestic ferro-chrome price assessment rolled over Japanese and South Korean ferro-chrome prices unchangedAlloy prices into US and Europe tick up Prices for c...Read More

In the late stages of 2018, gold regained some of its luster. As a safe haven, investors warmed up to the yellow metal as the market corrected. Gold has quietly resumed its uptrend and is up 2.8% year to date.For investors, it is always a good idea to have gold exposure in your portfolio. It's no secret that the traditional large cap gold mining stocks have struggle mightily over the past few year...Read More