The seaborne high-grade manganese ore index fell in the week to August 30, while the low-grade ore market consolidated after falling heavily in the previous week. Seaborne high-grade manganese ore index in China drops Seaborne low-grade cif and fob ore prices range bound Port ore prices drop to encourage buying interest Alloys slide in China, India amid weak demand Alloys stable in Europe, United...Read More
Turkish steel producers stayed away from the deep-sea scrap market for a second day this week, with no new cargoes booked on Tuesday September 3, sources told Fastmarkets.No new cargoes have been booked since Tuesday last week when, day on day, prices dropped by $11.55 per tonne. Market participants said they had heard rumors of possible new trades, but wanted to wait until the...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 3 that are worth another look.Following a flip in global steel and ferrous trade flow trends last year caused by economic jitters in Turkey, trade defenses by the United States and production cuts in China, this year it is steel prices that are turning upside down.The seaborne high-grade manganese ore index fell in the...Read More
Following a flip in global steel and ferrous trade flow trends last year caused by economic jitters in Turkey, trade defenses by the United States and production cuts in China, this year it is steel prices that are turning upside down. Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices are now below rebar prices in a phenomenon rarely seen outside of the Chinese domestic markets. HRC import prices in Vietnam have...Read More
Market participants have kept a close eye on the softening European selenium price over the summer for clues on how the market will perform from September when activity usually starts to pick up. Fastmarkets assessed the price of selenium in-whs Rotterdam at $7.50-9.50 per lb on Friday August 30, unchanged from the previous assessment but still under pressure with several offers pending at th...Read More
Following a flip in global steel and ferrous trade flow trends last year caused by economic jitters in Turkey, trade defenses by the United States and production cuts in China, this year it is steel prices that are turning upside down. Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices are now below rebar prices in a phenomenon rarely seen outside of the Chinese domestic markets. HRC import prices in Vietnam have...Read More
The ample availability of stock and poor demand for aluminium in Asia have led market participants to expect a downtrend for fourth quarter main Japan ports (MJP) premiums, Fastmarkets heard on Monday September 2.Widely considered Asia's main benchmark price level, Fastmarkets assessed the aluminium P1020A MJP spot premium, cif Japan at $85-95 per tonne on Friday August 30, flat for the third cons...Read More
The three-month lead price on the London Metal Exchange showed the greatest losses at the close of trading on Tuesday September 3, falling by some 1.6% to close at its lowest level since August 6.Meanwhile, a steady downturn in nickel's outright price saw it close below $18,000 per tonne.Lead futures began their decent during late in the morning, dipping below the support level at $2,000 per tonne...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices remained steady on Tuesday September 3, although Australian rail freight operator Aurizon reported service cancellations due to a train derailment in Queensland.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $154.01 per tonne, unchanged Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $167.54 per tonne, unchanged Hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $134.01 per ton...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil exporters lowered their offers on Tuesday September 3 despite domestic prices edging up further.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,650-3,670 yuan ($509-512) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,640-3,650 yuan per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonnePrices continued to rise, with trading activity being described as stronger than previous days, according to a S...Read More
Ferro-chrome prices continue to weaken in Europe due to producers' competition for sparse consumer interest. Alloy prices in Europe still weakening at lowest levels since 2009Ore and alloy prices hold in ChinaAlloy prices tick up in South Korea on potential Indian supply disruption US FeCr prices remain flat on thin tradingThe European ferro-chrome price softened slightly to a fresh ten-year low o...Read More
Prices for steel rebar and billet imported into the United Arab Emirates have decreased over the past week, with demand remaining poor, sources said on Tuesday September 3.Market participants believed that demand would improve after the price falls stopped, because buyers did not want to book while prices were still on their way downward.Domestic rebarEmirates Steel is the UAE's largest producer,...Read More
A summary of base metals premiums from across the globe for the week to Tuesday September 3. Please click...Read More
The London Metal Exchange three-month price nickel price held gains above $18,000 per tonne during morning trading on Tuesday September 3, while a fresh cancellation of around 22,725 tonnes of copper inventory did little to raise the red metal's stagnant price. The nickel price was the standout performer this morning, with trading volumes of just under 6,000 lots exchanged as of 9.30am London time...Read More
Nickel remains in the spotlight because the market now has concrete news to adjust to and tin seems to be rising on nickel's coattails, with Indonesia being the second largest producer of tin in the world.The other metals and markets in general are now waiting for further news on when United States-China trade talks will resume - given generally poor manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI)...Read More
Nickel once again outperformed the other base metals traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange during morning trading on Tuesday September 3, with the alloying metal continuing to benefit from expectations of tightening supply following news that Indonesia will expedite a ban on nickel ore exports.The most-traded November nickel contract climbed to 147,110 yuan ($20,519) per tonne as at 10.27am Shan...Read More
Chinese aluminium producer Xinfa Group is planning to restart operations at its Jiaokou alumina refinery in Shanxi province by mid-September, market sources told Fastmarkets on Monday September 2."I heard they are going to resume production on September 15 and they have started raw material preparation for that," an alumina trader in Northern China said.Xinfa was ordered to halt operations at its...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 3 that are worth another look.Following a flip in global steel and ferrous trade flow trends last year caused by economic jitters in Turkey, trade defenses by the United States and production cuts in China, this year it is steel prices that are turning upside down.The seaborne high-grade manganese ore index fell in the...Read More
Some of the prices for flat steel products imported into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) increased slightly on higher offers in the week to Tuesday September 3, with demand yet to recover because buyers want to see if price increases will be accepted in global markets.Prices decreased last week but offers are now higher, with buyers noting that there is not enough demand for buying to increase sign...Read More
Key suppliers of flat steel to Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow kept their prices unchanged during the week ended Monday September 2, with no apparent reason for the shifts that have been seen in the domestic market, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled sheet, domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, was unchanged at 45,100-45,500 roubles ($67...Read More