Arbitrage for copper, aluminium, zinc and nickel imported into China on Wednesday March 21*Copper -$84.89 (-538.7 yuan) Aluminium -$413.53 (-2,624.1 yuan) Zinc -$109.97 (-697.83 yuan) Nickel -$404.66 (-2,567.8 yuan) *Metal Bulletin calculates the physical...Read More

While the programming behind algorithmic trading is still in relative infancy, these computerized systems are more likely to increase volatility in metals trading than reduce it, Lord Copper muses. A few weeks ago, fellow Metal Bulletin columnist Martin Hayes wrote about the dramatic fall in the prices of financial assets since the turn of the year. Stock markets across the world have given b...Read More

European markets will not be flooded with imports of steel coil products after the United States applies its new import duty later this week, because US buyers of flat steel will be forced to pay the tariff, EU market sources have told Metal Bulletin.US President Donald Trump has approved the application of a 25% import tariff on steel imports from all countries apart from Australia, Canada and Me...Read More

Prices for rebar produced and delivered in Southern Europe narrowed downward by ?,?5 per tonne this week with demand and market activity weakening, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday March 21."The price has moved down a little due to the very cold weather and weak demand," one Southern European producer source said.Metal Bulletin's weekly domestic price assessment for rebar in Southern Europ...Read More

Domestic prices for mesh-quality wire rod produced and delivered in Europe remained unchanged this week as market activity slowed, sources said on Wednesday March 21.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic mesh-quality wire rod in Northern Europe was unchanged at ?,?550-560 ($676-689) per tonne delivered on Wednesday March."The market is under a little pressure, but this is more evid...Read More

Prices for rebar produced and delivered in Northern Europe have gone unchanged over the past week, with market demand low because of the recent cold weather in the region, market participants told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday March 21.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic rebar in Northern Europe was stable at ?,?550-570 ($676-701) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, unchanged week-on...Read More

Buying from Chinese manganese smelters might slow down but strong market fundamentals will support manganese prices, participants said during a panel discussion at the Asian Ferro-Alloys Conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday March 21.On the supply side, current inventories at the Chinese ports of Tianjin and Qinzhou are around 2.0-2.1 million tonnes, according to Metal Bulletin's assessment on Marc...Read More

Manganese ore inventories in Chinese ports have dropped 50% since April 2017 despite higher imports and almost unchanged silico-manganese production in 2017, according to Metal Bulletin data; Metal Bulletin asks why during the 19th Asian Ferro-Alloys Conference held in Hong Kong.Manganese ore port inventories have long been a key indicator of market fundamentals in China. Manganese ore inventories...Read More

The following Metal Bulletin minor metals prices changed on Wednesday March 21:Antimony MMTA standard grade II, $/tonne: $8,550-8,750 per tonne from $8,600-8,800 Antimony MB Chinese free market MMTA standard grade II, yuan/tonne: 52,500-53,000 yuan per tonne from 53,000-53,500 yuan Cadmium MB free market min 99.95%, cents/lb: 150-160 per lb from...Read More

The following Metal Bulletin noble alloys and ores prices changed on Wednesday March 21:Noble alloys Molybdenum Europe drummed molybdic oxide, $/lb: $12.60-12.80 per lb from $12.75-12.85 Ferro-molybdenum basis 65% min, in-warehouse Rotterdam, $/kg...Read More

Iron ore pellet premiums are expected to rise in 2018, reflecting agreements with customers and strong demand for high-quality pellets, Ukraine-focused iron ore producer Ferrexpo said on Wednesday March 21."In 2018, we expect further rationalization of steel capacity in China, which should support global steel margins, and in turn encourage a continued focus on iron-making productivity," Ferrexpo...Read More

Weak demand for Turkish long steel products in the country's export market and Section 232 uncertainty kept Turkish steel producers out of the deep-sea scrap markets on Wednesday March 21.After stepping back from the deep-sea scrap markets on March 9, when the United States applied a 25% duty on imports of steel products following the Section 232 investigation, there has been no...Read More

Iron ore prices moved slightly above $67 per tonne cfr China on Wednesday March 21, tracking increases in the paper markets.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore IndexToday: $67.25 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: up by $0.31 per tonne Month-to-date average: $72.33 per tonne Metal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $55.56 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: up by...Read More

Seaborne iron ore concentrate market softened last week, albeit at a slow rate of decline than prices for fines.The weekly Metal Bulletin 66% Fe Iron Ore Concentrate Index was $94.64 per tonne cfr China last Friday March 16, down $2.93 per tonne - or 3% - compared with a week earlier. The daily Metal Bulletin 65% Fe Iron Ore Index averaged $87.12 per tonne cfr China last week, down $3.70 per tonne...Read More

Seaborne iron ore prices recovered some losses on Wednesday March 21 tracking a small rebound in the paper market.Key drivers China's benchmark May iron ore futures contract bounced back in the afternoon to end the day in positive territory, following gains on Tuesday night and a retreat on Wednesday morning.But steel prices - in the both physical and futures markets - continued to soften during t...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices retreated on Wednesday March 21, with market participants anticipating further weakness amid ample offers of premium products.Two cargoes of premium products changed hands below previously transacted levels during the day. The cargoes "unbranded products" were traded at $204 per tonne fob Australia and $207 per tonne fob Australia on Global Coal, sources told Metal Bull...Read More

China's ferrous futures, particularly the steel contract, continued to fall during morning trading on Wednesday March 21, with physical prices coming under pressure in recent days. Futures closing prices - morning sessionShanghai Futures Exchange May rebar: 3,626 yuan ($573) per tonne, down 50 yuan per tonne May hot-rolled coil: 3,738 yuan per tonne, down 101 yuan per tonne Dalian Commodity Exchan...Read More

Key data from the Wednesday March 21 pricing session in London.Cadmium min 99.95% MB free market Cts per lb cif global main port New price Previous price Change to midpoint of range Midpoint % change 150-160 145-160 2.5 1.6% Read More

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

The following Metal Bulletin UK non-ferrous scrap and foundry ingot prices changed on Wednesday March 21:Aluminium scrap Group 1 pure 99% & litho: ?1,400-1,450 per tonne from ?1,410-1,460 Commercial...Read More