Equity markets started to show some weakness last week, although dips were being bought, but this morning, Monday June 15, the mood seems to have become more concerned about the rise in second waves of Covid-19 in many countries and the socio-economic implications of these. Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were weaker, as were most on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Asian-Pacific equ...Read More
Special bar quality (SBQ) steel prices in the United States have again risen due to increased raw material costs, but demand remains weak, industry participants told Fastmarkets. On the hot-rolled side of the market, Fastmarkets' monthly price assessment for steel bar hot-rolled special bar quality (SBQ) 1-inch round 1000 series (carbon), fob mill US rose to $33.25 per hundredweight ($665 per shor...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States slipped back toward the $25-per-hundredweight ($500-per-short-ton) mark, eroding gains achieved in recent weeks due to concerns about weak demand and inventory overhang. Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $25.32 per cwt ($506.40 per ton) on Monday June 15, down by 2.5% from $25.97 per cwt on Friday June 12 and 2...Read More
Prices for the steel plate in the United States held steady for the fifth week in a row after mills were unable to collect most of the price increase they announced in May. North American plate producers announced a round of price rises last month of either $40 per ton ($2 per hundredweight) or $50 per ton ($2.50 per cwt). The announcements said the increases were effective immediately, but market...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe moved down day on day on Monday June 15 due to low demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was ?,?393.75 ($442.92) per tonne on Monday June 15, down by ?,?2.50 per tonne from ?,?396.25 per tonne on Friday June 12 - also down by ?,?5 per tonne week on week and by ?,?18....Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil have moved further down in Northern Europe yet remained stable in Southern Europe in the week to Friday June 12 amid low market demand, sources said.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was calculated at ?,?396.25 ($505.90) per tonne on Friday June 12, down by ?,?2.50 per tonne week on week and by ?,?23.75 per tonne month...Read More
Latin American steelmakers were operating at 42% capacity in April after at least seven blast furnaces were halted to balance supply with the demand contraction amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the region's steel association, Alacero, said on Thursday June 11.The seven blast furnaces combined have the capacity to produce around 7 million tonnes per year of crude steel, Alacero added. For context, Latin...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap import market was quiet on Monday June 15, with mills digesting the bookings made last week at firm prices, sources told Fastmarkets.Nine deep-sea cargoes were booked by Turkish steel mills last week totaling around 250,000 tonnes. At least three additional cargoes from last week were also heard on Monday,...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices continued to strengthen over the past week on rising imported scrap costs and in support of the domestic long steel market, sources said on Monday June 15.Turkish steel producers have been booking deep-sea scrap in the past three weeks amid the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which has been pushing up prices since then, Fastmarkets understands.Fastmarkets' daily inde...Read More
Seaborne premium hard coking coal prices increased on Monday June 15, with market participants from China active in the spot market. Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $108.47 per tonne, up $1.11 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $117.58 per tonne, up $1.06 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $89.32 per tonne, down $0.10 per tonneHard coking coal...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices weakened on Monday June 15, while Chinese futures slipped as well, Fastmarkets heard.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $103.44 per tonne, down $1.58 per tonne.62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $106.12 per tonne, down $1.91 per tonne.58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $93.39 per tonne, down $0.87 per tonne.65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cf...Read More
China's ferrous scrap prices increased over the past week with strong demand leading some mills to raise their purchase prices to ensure supplies. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap heavy scrap domestic, delivered mill China was at 2,600-2,630 yuan ($367-371) per tonne on Friday June 12, narrowing up by 50 yuan per tonne from 2,550-2,630 yuan per tonne a week earli...Read More
Trading activity in the seaborne iron ore concentrates and pellet markets was limited in the week to Friday June 12 after increases in line with rising iron ore fines prices. Fastmarkets' index for iron ore 66% Fe concentrate, cfr Qingdao, stood at $115.18 per tonne on June 12, up $2.55 per tonne from $112.63 per tonne a week earlier. Sources said concerns over supplies from Brazil trigg...Read More
Turkish steel producers remained active in the market for import scrap in the week ending Friday June 12, while prices for bulk scrap in Japan and Vietnam appear to hit a ceiling as activity slowed.Turkish mills continue to book deep-sea scrap Demand from Turkey has allowed US East Coast prices to keep increasing Trading activity falls in Vietnamese market as offer prices climb Buying activi...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices dipped on Monday June 15 despite a relative tightness in supply in the eastern region, with a spike in the number of Covid-19 infections in Beijing over the weekend resulting in a weakening of the futures market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,640-3,650 yuan ($514-515) per tonne, down 10 yuan per tonnePrices fell slightly in Shanghai amid falling futures, though...Read More
China's rebar market appeared to be unperturbed by a spike of Covid-19 infections in Beijing over the weekend.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,570-3,600 yuan ($504-508) per tonne, down by 10 yuan per tonneThe number of infections in the capital started to rise on Saturday, but so far, there has not been any restrictions imposed on the construction sector in and around the city.Beijing has test...Read More
The cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it...Read More
The cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparency into the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies. Fastmarkets assessed cobalt...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in the United States, Europe and Asia for the week ended Friday June 12.China Export price for silicon grade 5-5-3 dropped - with deals concluded at the low and mid of the price range - while trading volume was very limited at no more than 40 tonnes per order.Weak overseas demand continued to pressure the silicon price, while sources...Read More
Key data from Friday June 12 pricing session in Shanghai.Key drivers Price range widens downward following the emergence of lower offers for Chinese brands of selenium amid sluggish demand from the glass industry and weakness in...Read More