Seaborne iron ore prices were flat on Thursday October 1 due to the start of the one-week Golden Week holiday in China. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $123.47 per tonne, unchanged62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $123.49 per tonne, unchanged58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $111.76 per tonne, unchanged65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao: $134.40 per to...Read More
Seaborne hard coking coal prices in the cfr China and fob Australia market were unchanged on Thursday October 1 amid a quiet market now that the Chinese Golden Week national holiday is underway.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $134.55 per tonne, unchanged. Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $145.10 per...Read More
Export prices for Japanese steel scrap dipped again over the past week amid low demand from Taiwan and South Korea, market sources told Fastmarkets.They said that although prices continued to fall over the week, they were of the opinion that the market had bottomed out, at least for the short term."Prices are stable and the market will not weaken anymore. Supplier offers are very limited because t...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and pre-market western equity index futures were for the most part firmer this morning, Thursday October 1, albeit in quiet conditions with China, Hong Kong and South Korea closed for holidays and technical problems meaning the Tokyo Stock Exchange could not open.Japan's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) climbed to 47.7 in September from...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in London on Thursday October 1. Key drivers Traders realizing prices toward $16 per lb, having held offers at this level for some weeks. Demand bright spots are appearing in economies that continue to reopen; foundry, automotive, medical sectors...Read More
The cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process...Read More
The cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb trade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed cobalt standard grade,...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloys forecast highlights:Prices across most ore and alloy markets trended higher in September, buoyed by improving demand from steelmakers with the end of the summer holiday season in Europe and the United States, as well as maintained demand from Chinese steel mills. Tightening of alloy inventories...Read More
Tyre-Line, a UK wheel assembly manufacturer serving the caravan and automotive industry, sees opportunity for downstream demand growth going into 2021 after facing Covid-19 related challenges earlier in 2020. The company's managing director, Edward Musson, spoke to Fastmarkets in a recent interview after signing a supply contract with Alvance Aluminium Wheels for more than 35,000 wheels per year e...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were for the most part weaker this morning, Friday October 2, but our focus is on the broader markets because US President Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid-19, which in itself is a major development, but is also going to have ramifications on the run-up to the presidential election on November 3.* Pre-market major western equity index futur...Read More
Crude Oil ETN (USO) moved below $26.27 extending an intermediate downtrend. Pre-opening Comments for Friday October 2ndU.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 47 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to news that President Trump tested positive to a COVID 19 test. WTI Crude oil dropped another $1.30 to US $37.42 per barrel. Crude oil pr...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 30 that are worth another look.Bangladeshi conglomerate Bashundhara Group has decided to build a large steelmaking furnace that will boost the country's demand for imports of scrap steel over the coming years, sources...Read More
Zinc concentrate treatment charges (TCs) have fallen sharply in September 2020, reversing a three-month upward trend because of supply tightness from South America, amid continuing disruptions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, putting pressure on traders and smelters to cover short positions.Fastmarkets' most recent assessment of the zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China, was $100-120 per tonne...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange was the standout performer at the close of trading on Wednesday September 30, after a significant uptick in consumer confidence in the United States. The surge in US positivity through September prompted a steady increase in buying activity, while continued inflows of material put pressure on the LME lead price across the aft...Read More
Zinc concentrate treatment charges (TCs) have fallen sharply in September 2020, reversing a three-month upward trend because of supply tightness from South America, amid continuing disruptions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, putting pressure on traders and smelters to cover short positions.Fastmarkets' most recent assessment of the zinc spot concentrate TC, cif China, was $100-120 per tonne...Read More
China nickel ore prices continued their ascent in the week to Tuesday September 29 - outstripping other regional prices - while United States briquette premiums narrowed at the bottom end of the range and consumers began to restock ahead of the fourth quarter, sources said.China's nickel ore price rally continues unabated while regional nickel sulfate prices downThe already-low US premiums narrow...Read More
European high- and low-carbon ferro-chrome prices diverged in the week to Tuesday September 29, with higher-grade market sentiment improving while weak demand subdued lower-grade values. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for ferro-chrome high carbon 6-8.5% C, basis 60-70% Cr, max 1.5% Si, delivered Europe, was $0.85-0.99/lb on Tuesday September 29, widening upwards by 1 cent/lb from one week ea...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 30 that are worth another look.Bangladeshi conglomerate Bashundhara Group has decided to build a large steelmaking furnace that will boost the country's demand for imports of scrap steel over the coming years, sources...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday September 30 that are worth another look.Bangladeshi conglomerate Bashundhara Group has decided to build a large steelmaking furnace that will boost the country's demand for imports of scrap steel over the coming years, sources...Read More