As competition in the global steel markets remains fierce, Metal Bulletin provides an update on the new, progressing and closed trade cases from around the world in May 2018.The case list below includes only updates. For other continuing cases this year, see...Read More

Metal Bulletin rounds up some of the key news and price moves across the global metal markets this week.Base metals Blister copper refining charges (RCs) in China edged down in May as spot tonnages were sought following the recent shutdown of several domestic primary smelters and a continued fall in copper scrap imports.The European Commission (EC) has encouraged all non-EU countries affected by t...Read More

The following Metal Bulletin noble alloys, bulk alloys and ores prices changed on Friday June 1:Noble alloys Molybdenum Europe drummed molybdic oxide, $/lb: $11.40-11.50 per lb from $11.25-11.40 Molybdenum US canned molybdic oxide, $/Ib $11.60-11.70 per Ib from $11.40-11.70 Ferro-molybdenum basis 65% min, in-warehouse Rotterdam, $/kg Mo: $28.00-28.30 per kg from $27.50-28.00 Ferro-molybdenum US 65...Read More

Key data from the pricing session in the week ending Friday June 1. China  China's domestic ferro-chrome prices rose following higher June tender prices and production cuts in small plants based in Fujian, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Hunan regions. The market anticipates further disruption to...Read More

Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have softened week on week due to cheaper material entering the market and because of downstream consumer expectations for lower prices; lithium prices in other regions were unchanged due to sluggish spot market activity. Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices in China weaken  Lower battery-grade quality material available in the market drag down assessm...Read More

The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Friday June 1. Nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange climbed 3% during morning trading, reaching levels not seen since the metal's mid-April sanction-related spike. Meanwhile, sideways trading takes effect across the rest of the complex. "The exception is nickel where prices spiked higher in the early hours to $1...Read More

Manganese ore miner Tshipi Borwa ?(C) Ntle Manganese Mining more than doubled its profit after taxation to ZAR 1.9 billion ($150.65 million) in the twelve months to February 28 2018, its largest shareholder Jupiter Mines has announced.The figure compares with a post-tax profit of ZAR891 million for the year to February 29 2017. Production at the South African manganese mine located the Northern...Read More

Iron ore export volumes from Brazil increased by 11.01% year on year in May, according to figures released by the country's foreign trade ministry, MDIC, on Friday June 1.Iron ore shipments came to 38.98 million tonnes last month, compared with 35.11 million tonnes in the same period in 2017.But Brazil's iron ore export revenues came to $1.55 billion in May, down...Read More

The UK light iron scrap market was stable over the past week, for the eighth week in a row, as market expectation of a downturn in prices failed to materialise ahead of monthly delivery settlements to consumers in June, industry sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday June 1. Market sentiment has also been cautious after the United States imposed tariffs of 25% on imports of steel from the European...Read More

Prices for containerized shredded scrap imports into India dipped this week after deals were done at lower prices with the market remaining weak, market sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday June 1.Metal Bulletin's weekly index for containerized imports of shredded scrap into India was $374.03 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva on June 1. This was down by $8.87 per tonne, from $382.90 per tonne cfr on May...Read More

Metal Bulletin reviews the major stories that have affected the steel market over the past week.The United States will impose Section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced.The Mexican steel association, Canacero, has welcomed the decision by the federal government to take reciprocal m...Read More

Turkish steel producers have continued to book deep-sea scrap cargoes with prices continuing to slip, sources said on Friday June 1.A steel producer in the Marmara region booked a European cargo, comprising 15,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (75:25), 12,000 tonnes of shredded and 13,000 tonnes of bonus at an average price of $336 per tonne cfr.Another steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a UK cargo, c...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices strengthened on Friday June 1 with Brazilian materials contributing most to the gains despite a softening of futures and the port market.Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index: $66.16 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.84 per tonneMetal Bulletin 58% Fe Premium Index: $53.56 per tonne cfr Qingdao, up by $0.25 per tonneMetal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index: $86.40 per tonne cfr Qi...Read More

Market participants' reaction to the possibility of a shortage of coking coal due to Australian rail freight operator Aurizon's new maintenance plan kept seaborne prices supported on Friday June 1.A cargo of premium mid-vol hard coking coal has been traded around $190 per tonne fob Australia while two cargoes of hard coking coal have changed hands at $169 per tonne fob Australia. Two more cargoes...Read More

Lead stocks in Shanghai Futures Exchange-approved warehouses fell to 10,967 tonnes in the week to Friday June 1, down 13% or 1,709 tonnes from last week's 12,676 tonnes. This week, Zhongchu Wuxi recorded the most lead stock withdrawals, with 1,257 tonnes leaving its sheds. The demand-supply imbalance and subsequent deficit were credited for the drop in lead inventory. The stringent environmental r...Read More

Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower during morning trading on Friday June 1, with sideways trading predominantly in effect across the complex.Nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange climbed 3% during morning trading on Friday June 1, reaching levels not seen since the metal's mid-April sanction-related spike. Meanwhile, sideways trading takes effect across the rest of the...Read More

China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices moved up on Friday June 1 as futures gained early in the trading session. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 4,280-4,300 yuan ($668-671) per tonne, up 20 yuan per tonne Northern China (Tianjin): 4,180-4,200 yuan per tonne, up 20-30 yuan per tonne HRC futures rose to a high of 3,964 yuan per tonne in the first hour of the morning session before retreatin...Read More

An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More

The following Metal Bulletin minor metals prices changed on Friday June 1:Minor metals Bismuth MB free market, $/lb: $4.50-5.05 per lb from $4.50-5.00 Bismuth MB China domestic, yuan/tonne: 62,000-64,000 yuan per tonne from 65,000-66,500 yuan Chromium MB free market alumino-thermic, $/tonne: $12,500-13,050 per tonne from $12,700-13,500 Cobalt MB free market high grade, $/lb: $42.00-43.00 per lb fr...Read More

An overview of China's minor metals markets in the week of May 29-June 1 and the reasons for any price moves.Read More