Eastern China's rebar prices increased slightly on Wednesday September 30 on stronger demand to end the short working week 20-40 yuan per tonne higher than last Friday.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,630-3,660 yuan ($533-538) per tonne, up by 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Beijing) weekly assessment: 3,570-3,590 yuan per tonne, down by 50 yuan per tonneMild weather and restocking demand ahea...Read More
Base metals prices and Asian-Pacific equities were mixed this morning, Wednesday September 30, although pre-market western equity index futures were weaker following a confrontational and not very presidential first debate between US President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the democratic candidate.China's official and Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers' indices (PMI) were...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More
Umicore will consolidate its production of battery chemicals in Europe and the United States, the company said on Wednesday September 30.The Belgian specialty chemicals company will move its cobalt refining capacities from the Olen plant in Belgium to the Kokkola refinery in Finland.The move to "one of the largest cobalt refineries globally" will allow "the business unit to produce at a larger and...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, in-whs Rotterdam,...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 it applies.Fastmarkets assessed cobalt alloy grade,...Read More
A summary of China's battery raw materials imports for August 2020.In brief China's imports of cobalt metal hit a historical high in August after importers in the country looked to take advantage of noticeable arbitrage opportunities. In addition, import appetite was spurred by wide-spread expectations of stockpiling by China's state reserve authority and the prospect of further price gains in the...Read More
A summary of China's battery raw materials exports for August 2020.In brief China's exports of graphite flake increased in August from a month earlier, with the rise mainly driven by the fulfillment of orders delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic rather than a recovery in demand. China's lithium exports rose year...Read More
The Cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, yuan/tonne 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...Read More
The European Commission (EC) has initiated anti-dumping proceedings concerning imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in India and Indonesia. The investigation follows a complaint lodged on Monday August 17 by the European steel association Eurofer. The complaint alleges that imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products from India and Indonesia are being...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday September 30.Key drivers Persistent tightness in titanium scrap supplies in Europe causes prices to climb for the third week in a row. Scrap generation has fallen in line with a downturn in heavy industry, particularly the aerospace sector, with a fall in volumes from machine shops, forge shops and fabricators. National...Read More
The Chinese domestic stainless steel price narrowed upward over the week ended Wednesday September 30 due to an active market ahead of the National Day holiday on October 1-8. Domestic Stainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 14,400-15,100 yuan ($2,117-2,220) per tonne, up from 14,300-15,100 yuan per tonne a week earlier.Downstream factories raised procurement rates to...Read More
The UG2 chrome ore and ferro-chrome markets were stable in the week to Tuesday September 29, with trading activity slowing down ahead of the Golden Week holiday on October 1-8. Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China was $139 per tonne on Tuesday, unmoved from the preceding week.Sellers and buyers reported a lack of activity and told Fastmarkets 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 Se...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 28 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to continuing talks to extend COVID 19 benefits.Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of economic news at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for Weekly Initial Jobless Claims was 850,000 versus 873,000 last week. Actual was 837,000. Consensus for August Per...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 29 that are worth another look.Autumn-winter steel production restriction plans in northern China will start on October 1 and last until March 31, 2021, according to a draft plan on air pollution control released by the Ministry...Read More
London Metal Exchange three-month base metals prices made no significant gains at the close on Tuesday September 29, with a directionless base-metals complex awaiting further macroeconomic stimulus.This was expected to come in the form of a United States fiscal stimulus package intended to fight the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.LME base metals futures prices stalled while talks c...Read More
The formal consultation process for collective dismissal at Alcoa's San Cipri??n aluminium smelter in Spain has ended without an agreement with the workers' representatives, the producer said on Tuesday September 29.Alcoa now have up to 15 days to determine and announce a decision regarding the smelter's 228,000 metric tonnes of annual capacity. An agreement was previously reached with the workers...Read More
An overview of the chrome ore and alloy markets and their latest price moves. Japan & South Korea Imports of ferro-chrome to Japan and South Korea from India have tightened due to continuing strength in India's domestic ferro-chrome market. The ferro-chrome prices...Read More
The formal consultation process for collective dismissal at Alcoa's San Cipri??n aluminium smelter in Spain has ended without an agreement with the workers' representatives, the producer said on Tuesday September 29.Alcoa now have up to 15 days to determine and announce a decision regarding the smelter's 228,000 metric tonnes of annual capacity. An agreement was previously reached with the workers...Read More