Unseasonably strong demand in China propelled low grade manganese ore prices higher, while alloy markets flatlined everywhere but the United States. Low grade manganese ore price gained 32 cents per dmtuHigh grade manganese ore prices lag Alloy prices static in China, India and EuropeAlloy prices strengthen in the US while supply tightens  Low grade manganese ore prices kept rising on Fr...Read More

Eramet produced a record 4.1 million tonnes of manganese ore in 2017, compared with 3.41 million tonnes in 2016, the company said in its annual results on Wednesday February 21.The French miner attributed the rise in output mainly to efforts in making the TransGabonese railway line in Gabon more reliable, which enabled its subsidiary COMILOG to achieve a record level of 4.1 million tonnes of...Read More

Turkish steel mills paused their deep-sea scrap purchasing activity on Wednesday February 21 after news broke of the delivery of the Section 232 report in the United States, according to market sources.The mills in the country were expected to book more cargoes for March but they have slowed down their transactions and have booked only one cargo since the US Department of Commerce delivered its re...Read More

The trade protection measures suggested in the Section 232 report submitted to the US government would create "deviations in global trading" and increase unfair trade competition, according to steel trade associations in Turkey.And the threat of a 53% import tax to be levied by the United States on Turkish goods would "definitely stop Turkish exports into the country," they added.Section 232 allow...Read More

Iron ore prices held steady at $78 per tonne cfr China on Wednesday February 21, with China on the last day of its weeklong break for the Chinese New Year.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $78.43 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: unchanged Month-to-date average: $76.83 per tonne...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices remain supported amid concerns over the weather in Queensland, Australia despite the absence of Chinese buyers, according to market sources. "[Tuesday] night's severe storm activity in Central and North Queensland has impacted some sections of the Central Queensland Coal Network (Goonyella and Blackwater)," Queensland rail freight operator Aurizon told Metal Bulletin vi...Read More

Indian steel product export prices could fall if high import tariffs are applied to steel from countries such as South Korea, Turkey and Japan by the United States, sources have told Metal Bulletin.Any price drops for steel from South Korea, Turkey and Japan - which depend on steel exports to the US more than Indian steel mills do - would depress market conditions for Indian steel exporters too, s...Read More

BHP expects to see the price spreads across different grades of steelmaking raw materials to persist in the coming months amid supply-side reforms in China, among other factors. "[...] We are optimistic that the 62% Fe index price [for iron ore] can be relatively resilient to slowing end-use demand and growing seaborne supply in the coming half year," the miner said in its economic and commodity o...Read More

Comex copper prices were in negative territory on Wednesday February 21, with a stronger dollar and lack of market action weighing on base metals prices generally.Copper for May settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 0.9 cents or 0.3% to trade recently at $3.1815 per lb."The USD continues to be the main game in town as its recent rally continues ahead of some key...Read More

The global zinc market was facing a 495,000-tonne deficit last year, mainly driven by growing consumption in countries including China and Japan, according to the International Zinc and Lead Study Group (IZLSG).This compares with a deficit of 122,000 tonnes and a surplus of 170,000 tonnes in 2016 and 2015 respectively, the group said on Tuesday. Refined zinc usage rose by 2.60% to 14,219,000 tonne...Read More

Copper premiums in Asian markets were unchanged this week on quiet spot trade as key markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays. Meanwhile, limited spot buying interest was shown in Europe this week to keep premiums flat as market participants stayed relaxed on the ample availability of copper cathodes in the area, whereas signs of pick-up are seen in the US's spot copper market on growin...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 February 21:Aluminium scrap Group 1 pure 99% & litho: ?1,410-1,460 per...Read More

India's decision to allow private and foreign companies to bid for coal mines without any end-use or price restrictions is likely to lure foreign giants such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Glencore, currently swimming in cash.According to online trading firm Angel Broking, the new guidelines - aimed at boosting investment, output and the introduction of better technology - could be the firs...Read More

Tech giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is said to be in talks to buy long-term supplies of cobalt directly from miners as a way to ensure sufficient supply of the metal, an essential ingredient in the batteries that power its iPhone.Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg reports that the company is trying to secure contracts for several thousand tonnes of cobalt for five years or longer.Electronics and...Read More

Miner and commodities trader Glencore (LON:GLEN) said Wednesday it would pay shareholders $2.9bn in dividends after achieving what it called its "strongest results on record", which attributed mainly to a sharp recovery on commodity markets and a strong performance from its marketing unit.The 2017 results leave Ivan Glasenberg, the head of the Swiss company, well positioned to continue doing wh...Read More

http://www.afr.com/After eight years of delays and uncertainty, Indian energy giant Adani is approaching crunch time on its controversial $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland.Adani Australia’s chief executive Jeyakumar Janakaraj - known in the industry as “JJ” - late last year set a March 31 deadline for the company to find the remaining funds for the $6.7 bil...Read More

Feb 22, 2018 Guest(s): Kevin O'Leary Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have broken records this year as more investors, particularly millennials, flock into the market. The leading digital currency bitcoin has managed to rally significantly this, rising to an all-time high of nearly $8,000 and up over 500% year to date. But, one famed investor remains a little skeptical about the future of bitcoin....Read More

The UK would have enough energy if the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project faced further delays, but nuclear power remains an essential part of the country's electricity mix, Business Secretary Greg Clark has told a House of Lords committee. The government does not, however, have a specific target for nuclear energy use in the future, he said.EDF Energy announced today the completion of the nuclear isl...Read More

The "pension crisis" is one of those things — like electric cars and nuclear fusion — that’s definitely coming but never seems to actually arrive. However, for pension funds the reason a crisis hasn't yet happened is also the reason that it will happen, and soon: The Risk Pension Funds Can't Escape (Wall Street Journal) – Public pension funds that lost hundreds of billions...Read More