The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Approaching the end of the calendar year, steelmakers and consumers enter a busy period of contract negotiations for supply for 2021 or at least the first quarter or half year.With the sharp increases in spot market steel prices during recent months, steelmakers are understandably looking to take advantage and secure higher c...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.US ERW OCTG edges higher, seamless could followRising substrate costs helped support US ERW OCTG prices this month, especially at the upper end of the range of offers. Seamless OCTG and linepipe prices, meanwhile, held firm compared with September prices. The fundamentals remain weak, with rig counts going up...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Prices for most ferro-alloys maintained their upward momentum into October, solidifying previous gains and reflecting the improved demand from steelmakers, the rebuilding of depleted inventories, and the supply-side concerns following both planned and unplanned outages. Gains were noted for ferro-silicon, silicon metal, mang...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.While a world leader in many areas, the United States is a relatively small player when it comes to stainless steel. It produces a small amount of material, both in absolute and relative terms (i.e. compared to the size of its population), while a large share of its industry is in the hands of bigger European companies. Never...Read More
An overview of the new energy raw materials markets and their latest price moves.Susan Zou and Sally Zhang in Shanghai, Carrie Shi in Beijing, and...Read More
The market for imported pig iron in the United States improved during the week to Friday November 6 on an optimistic mood among suppliers, which have tight order books and see demand in other outlets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $377-385 per tonne on Friday, widening upward from $377 per tonne a week earlier."Now demand for pig iron is higher than...Read More
The United States' used beverage can (UBC) imports fell for a third consecutive month in September, with domestic recycling processes beginning to recover from Covid-19 closures.UBC imports totaled 11,796 short tons in September, down by 6.4% from 12,606 tons in August but up by 28.1% from 9,206 tons in the same month last year, according to US trade data.Imports of the product...Read More
The benchmark A380.1 secondary aluminium alloy price in the United States has logged a 13th consecutive week of increases, supported by rising raw material costs and strong demand from automotive die-casters, to reach its highest in more than 23 months.Fastmarkets assessed the price for aluminium alloy A380.1, delivered Midwest at 88-91 cents per lb on Thursday November 5, up by 2.9% from 86-88 ce...Read More
The market for flat-rolled aluminium is robust at present, but uncertainty surrounding the direction of the volatile US Midwest premium, and the potential for more disruptions from the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, have made it difficult for Novelis to plan and navigate the markets.United States-based Novelis is a world leader in the rolling and recycling of aluminium. Its senior vice president an...Read More
Fastmarkets is launching two new coefficients for the copper concentrates market, with an update to be published for the first time on Friday November 6.The new coefficients, MB-CU-0422 - Copper concentrates counterparty spread and MB-CU-0423 - Copper concentrates Co-VIU, will build on the success of Fastmarkets' index reporting on the copper concentrates market, which started...Read More
Copper concentrate treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) rose in the week to Friday November 6, with market liquidity seasonally lower at a time when miners and smelters are discussing annual contracts. Fastmarkets' benchmark copper concentrates TC/RC index, cif Asia Pacific was at $46.4 per tonne / 4.64 cents per lb on Friday, reaching a four-month high. Highlights of the week -...Read More
Noranda Income Fund (NIF) has extended its exclusive agreements with Glencore Canada for the purchase of zinc concentrate and the sale of zinc metal for an additional three years through to April 30, 2025.The agreement will renew automatically for five-year terms after it expires, unless Glencore Canada opts not to renew. The Toronto, Canada-listed company said the agreement's non-renewal notice p...Read More
Though confirmed deals lowered hot-rolled coil prices in the United States on Friday November 6, the spot market may well hit $35 per hundredweight ($700 0per short ton) soon due to limited availability and rising raw material costs, according to sources.Fastmarkets' daily hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $34.43 per cwt ($688.60 per ton) on Friday, down 1.1% from $34.82 pe...Read More
Prices for cold-rolled and galvanized steel sheet in the United States strengthened again after buyers said they were ready to order spot material and mills expressed uncertainty over when availability would open up. HDG prices rose for the 13th consecutive week.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel cold-rolled coil, fob mill US climbed to $43 per hundredweight ($860 per short ton) on Thu...Read More
Steel demand is expected to remain supported through the end of 2020 in Brazil, with consumption from some sectors - and construction in particular - forecast to grow from 2019 levels, ArcelorMittal's chief financial officer Aditya Mittal said on Thursday November 5."We see demand coming back in various sectors. And in some sectors, like construction in Brazil, we see full-year demand actually hig...Read More
Automakers in Brazil expect that ongoing negotiations for annual price contracts with steel producers will be "tough on both sides," according to Luiz Carlos Moraes, president of national auto association Anfavea.Cost increases are one of the main challenges the sector faces in its gradual recovery from Covid-19-related lows, the association said on Friday November 6.Steel prices for automakers ar...Read More
The majority of imports prices for flat-rolled steel in South America rose during the week ended on Friday November 6 amid higher offers from Chinese mills for January-shipment cargoes.Fastmarkets assessed the price for steel plate import, cfr main ports South America, at $560-570 per tonne on Friday, up by $10 per tonne from $550-560 per tonne a week before.Participants reported offers from China...Read More
Fastmarkets' Ferrous Analytics report helps subscribers...Read More
Indian local secondary billet prices rose by 1,800 rupees ($24) per tonne week on week on account of strong demand from finished product makers and a sharp rise in prices of direct-reduced iron (DRI).Fastmarkets assessed the price of steel billet domestic, ex-works India at 33,300-33,500 rupees per tonne on Friday November 6, compared with 31,500-31,700 rupees per tonne ex-works last week."Demand...Read More
Domestic Turkish prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil (HDG) and color-coated coil (pre-painted galvanized iron or PPGI) continued to increase in the week to Friday November 6, with demand reported to be strong, sources told Fastmarkets.Coated coil prices increased on firm demand and increasing prices for hot-rolled coil, the base product for coated coil.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for st...Read More