Iron ore prices were mostly higher on Monday September 28 due to active buying in the physical market by mills who were restocking ahead of the week-long National Day holidays in China, sources said. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $116.15 per tonne, up $0.94 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $116.15 per tonne, up $0.41 per tonne 58% Fe fines high-grade premi...Read More
Seaborne premium hard coking coal prices edged higher on Monday September 28 amid bullish sentiment in the market. Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $133.86 per tonne, up $0.05 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $143.57 per tonne, up $0.08 per tonneHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $112.26 per tonne, up $1.50 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $121.12 per tonne,...Read More
ArcelorMittal resumed operations at blast furnace (BF) No1 at its Fos-sur-Mer plant in France last week, the company told Fastmarkets on Monday September 28. The steelmaker stopped BF No1 at Fos-sur-Mer as well as the converter and continuous caster on March 23 due to falling demand caused by Covid-19 lockdown measures across Europe. ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer has two BFs...Read More
China imported 7.17 million tonnes of coking coal in August, by 20.9% from 9.06 million tonnes a year earlier, Chinese customs data showed. Last month's imports are also down by 2.7% month on month.Market sources largely attributed the year-on-year drop to China's tighter import restrictions this...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices weakened on Monday September 28 despite active buying, with buyers restocking ahead of an eight-day break to mark the country's National Day.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,820-3,840 yuan ($560-563) yuan per tonne, down 10-20 yuan per tonnePrices fell during the day even though most sources reported that there was more trading activity during the day than any one...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange was slightly improved during morning trading on Monday September 28, with price action moving 0.4% higher despite a fresh inflow of just over 30,000 tonnes into LME-registered warehouses in Rotterdam, while tin futures led on the upside with 1.6% increase to trade firmly above the $17,000-per-tonne support level. Copper's outright price on...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices gained some upward momentum on Monday September 28 on a strengthening of demand.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,620-3,650 yuan ($530-535) per tonne, up by 10-20 yuan per tonneBuyers raised procurement rates during the day to stock up on materials for consumption during the Golden Week. The October 1-8 break marks China's National Day.A trader in eastern China said...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in London on Friday September 25.Key drivers Antimony prices in Europe were supported by concerns about tight ore availability in China and reports of limited raw material stocks at plants, resulting in rising replacement costs for traders in Europe and the United States, especially for trioxide-grade material. Some market participants reported an uptick...Read More
The slowdown of the roll-out of fifth generation technology (5G) is continuing to weigh on the tantalum market with the concentrate price falling to a year-to-date low on Friday September 25. Fastmarkets assessed the price of tantalite, basis 25% min Ta2O5, cif China at $56-57.75 per lb on Friday, down from $57-59 per lb a week earlier and down from its year-to-date high of $65-68 per lb in May. T...Read More
The cobalt alloy 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...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...Read More
Key data from the Friday September 25 pricing session in London.Key driversCobalt hydroxide market steady; distributors anticipating some restocking ahead of or shortly after China's upcoming Golden Week holiday (October 1-8), and are therefore declining to...Read More
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.A total of 1,130 tonnes of cobalt was delivered to China in August, an increase of 245% from the prior month and 421% higher than the same month of last year, according to Chinese customs data. August's volume is the highest ever in a month.T...Read More
Portside prices for both low- and high-grade manganese ore in China continued to fall in the week to Friday September 25, after ore traders cut their offer prices further in response to disappointing pre-holiday restocking activity among alloy smelters, market sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' manganese ore port index, base 37% Mn, range 35-39%, fot Tianjin, China, was 34.20 yuan ($5.01) per d...Read More
China's domestic ferrous scrap prices dropped at more rapid pace over the past week than the preceding week on a weakening finished steel market, though demand for the steelmaking raw material was stable.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel scrap heavy scrap domestic, delivered mill China was at 2,590-2,740 yuan ($379-401) per tonne last Friday September 25, down by 80-100 yuan per tonne...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed but little changed this morning, Tuesday September 29, while prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were firmer as they caught up with Monday’s performance on the LME.* Last week’s pullbacks have run into dip-buying – hopes for further stimulus are buoying markets.* US Congress making progress in talks regarding support mea...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 4 points in pre-opening trade. McCormick slipped $4.18 to $191.00 despiter reporting higher than consensus fiscal third quarter revenues and earnings. The company also announced a 2 for 1 stock split.Walmart added $0.28 to $137.53 after announcing plans to invest up to $25 billion in the India based Tata Group. E...Read More
* Premium for cash over 3-month copper reverses to adiscount * Eyes on surveys of China's manufacturing sector (Updates prices, adds dollar impact) By Pratima Desai LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Copper prices firmed on Mondayas expectations of robust demand from top consumer Chinasupported sentiment, but doubts about longer-term prospects anda jump in London Metal Exchange stocks capped gains. Bench...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday September 25 that are worth another look.Prices for flat-rolled steel imported into South America took a downturn in the week to September 25 with Chinese mills presenting lower offers amid residual negotiations for November shipments.Brazilian trade chamber Camex confirmed this...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday September 25 that are worth another look.Prices for flat-rolled steel imported into South America took a downturn in the week to September 25 with Chinese mills presenting lower offers amid residual negotiations for November shipments.Brazilian trade chamber Camex confirmed this...Read More