RAPAPORT... HRD Antwerp will launch a grading center in Moscow, itsfirst in Russia, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said Tuesday. The diamond-certification organization, a subsidiary of theAWDC, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian Deputy FinanceMinister Alexei Vladimirovich Moiseev during the Kimberley Process intersessionalin Antwerp this week. "This collaboration wil...Read More

RAPAPORT... Lucara Diamond Corp. sold $32.5 million worth of rough from the Karowe mine at its recent exceptional-stone tender, including a 327-caratdiamond that fetched more than $10 million. The 10 stones - ranging from 40.4 carats to 472.37carats -weighed a combined 1,453.06 carats, and sold for an average price of $22,356per carat, Lucara said Tuesday. The highest seller was a 327.48-carat whi...Read More

Meeting the increasing challenge of securing critical materials for use in military hardware, consumer electronics, electric vehicles and modern rechargeable batteries had less to do with producers ramping up production, or manufacturers using less raw material than it had to do with governments facilitating well-functioning global markets, Eggert said."Importantly, we are not running out of miner...Read More

Sentiment in the CIS steel billet export market has cooled this week because buying activity has not bounced back as expected after last week's Ramadan and eid holidays.Some CIS mills were trying to push through higher prices, following reports of several CIS-origin cargoes being sold at $515-520 per tonne fob Black Sea last week, with higher scrap values in Turkey leading to a glob...Read More

Lucara Diamond Corp’s twelfth exceptional diamond tender has earned it $32.48-million, with one 327.48 ct diamond sold for $10.1-million, or about $30 900/ct.The company, which operates the Karowe mine, in Botswana, put ten single diamonds, ranging in size from 40.4 ct to 472.37 ct, up for tender.AdvertisementThe diamonds sold for more than $1-million each, with the tender achieving an avera...Read More

The European Commission (EC) is introducing rebalancing measures this week in response to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium, it said on Wednesday June 20. The measures will immediately target a list of products worth ?,?2.8 billion ($3.24 billion) and will come into effect on Friday June 22. The list of US imports that will now face an extra duty at the EU border include steel and aluminium pr...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Lucara Diamond Corp.'s 12th Exceptional Stone Tender has achieved gross revenues of $32.5 million, or $22,356 per carat.    The tender consisted of 10 single stone lots, ranging from 40.4 carats to 472.37 carats, totaling 1,453.06 carats and included two diamonds greater than 300 carats. The 327.48 carat diamond sold for $10.1 million, or $30,900 per carat.   A...Read More

(IDEX Online) - ALROSA sold 111 gem-quality lots with a total weight of 1,725 carats for $10.5 million at an international auction in Dubai which took place from May 27 to June 14.   There were 32 winning bidders from the largest diamond trading centers (India, Belgium, Israel, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States).   "The auction concluded with excellent results for us...Read More

Metal Bulletin proposes to launch a price assessment for nickel sulfate on an ex-works China basis.Surging demand in the electric vehicles (EV) sector has driven lithium-ion battery development in recent years.Although compositions vary, two batteries have become dominant in the market: The lithium-ion nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery and the nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) battery. More recent...Read More

Christian Keidel left Constellium this month while Marcus Becker has joined the aluminium products manufacturer in Zurich, industry sources said on Wednesday June 20. Constellium declined to comment. Becker started on June 1 as Constellium's director of metals and energy procurement, having worked at rival...Read More

Comex copper prices were at the lowest level since late May during trading in the US morning of Wednesday June 20 amid threats of a trade war between the United State and China along with a stronger dollar. Copper for July settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped 1.50 cents or 0.5% to $3.0320 per lb. Earlier today, the contract hit a low of $3.0290, the weakest s...Read More

Tin premiums were stable across global markets amid quiet trading conditions, while high outflows from Indonesia continue to keep market sentiment bearish.High inflows from Indonesia continue to keep market sentiment bearish, while sufficient supply and a weakening euro are keeping premiums flat across the board. Europe keeps steady amid quiet trading SHFE tin stocks rally 8% week on week US premi...Read More

Nickel premiums were unchanged in well-supported and stable markets in China, the United States and Europe in the week to Tuesday June 19. Volumes in China nickel market picks up  Premiums hold steady in United States on the back of steady demand  European premiums steady in quiet summer market China nickel premiums stable; trading activities tick up Premiums for cif Shanghai full-plate...Read More

A widening backwardation in LME forward prices has caused premiums for the metal to fall in Shanghai. Premiums for lead, meanwhile, are unchanged week on week. Backwardation in LME zinc's cash/three-month spread widens to $42 per tonne on MondayZinc premiums drop in Shanghai to 10-month low for cif, two month low for in-warehouseUS rates unchanged but could rise due to trucking shortage Backwardat...Read More

Prices for rebar produced and delivered in southern Europe have narrowed downward by ?,?10 per tonne over the past week, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday June 20.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in southern Europe was ?,?475-490 ($550-568) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, down from ?,?475-500 per tonne one week earlier. The assessment includes offers and de...Read More

Prices for domestic hollow steel sections narrowed in North Europe and widened in South Europe this week, with the market cautious due to various tariff and safeguarding investigations, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday June 20.Metal Bulletin's price assessment for commodity-size, grade-S235 square hollow sections made and delivered in Northern Europe narrowed by ?,?5 per tonne to ?,?635-65...Read More

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were up across the board on the morning of Wednesday June 20, with the complex up by an average of 0.3%. Nickel and zinc prices led the way with gains of 0.5%, while copper was up by 0.2% at $6,843 per tonne. This rebound follows yet another day of price weakness on Tuesday that saw the base metals complex drop by an average of 1.7% and t...Read More

Domestic prices for steel beams in Europe rose this week due to strong consumer demand and following an increase in scrap prices, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday June 20. Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic S235-grade, 200x200mm category-2 H-beam in Northern Europe rose by ?,?5 per tonne to ?,?580-615 ($672-713) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, from ?,?580-610 per...Read More

Turkish long steel producer Kroman Celik is upgrading its wire rod mill to produce a greater range of sizes and premium grades.The upgrade of the mill - which was installed in 2006 and started production in 2008 - will be completed in summer 2019, according to Italian equipment supplier Danieli, and will allow the company to produce wire rod in diameters of 4.5-26mm diameter and...Read More

Key data from the Wednesday June 20 pricing session in Europe. Key drivers - Steady demand for ferro-titanium in the past week has cemented prices in their current range, with little seen to change in the near term, sources said. - Almost 400 tonnes of alloy was reportedly traded in the spot market this week...Read More