Iron ore fines prices gained ground on Wednesday August 19 with healthy demand continuing, sources said, while the decrease in China domestic iron ore production in July could help push prices up.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $129.09 per tonne, up $0.52 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $128.39 per tonne, up $1.31 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cf...Read More
The price of hollow steel sections in Europe has remained stable over the past week despite previous expectations of an increase, with the slow summer activity precluding any changes, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 19.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?540-560 ($643-667) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week...Read More
A simmering dispute between Japan and South Korea is expected to inflict further damage on the trading relationship and diplomatic ties between the two countries, analysts told Fastmarkets this week.Two weeks ago, the District Court in Daegu, South Korea, approved the seizure of Nippon Steel assets in the country to compensate Korean men forced to work in Nippon's factories during the Se...Read More
Brazilian flat-rolled steel producer Usiminas has lost the lead in its domestic market due to its strong exposure to the automotive sector, which suffered greatly from the Covid-19 pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets.Brazil's steel industry took a heavy hit from regional restrictions in the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Demand fell significantly in April and recovered at a slow...Read More
A simmering dispute between Japan and South Korea is expected to inflict further damage on the trading relationship and diplomatic ties between the two countries, analysts told Fastmarkets this week.Two weeks ago, the District Court in Daegu, South Korea, approved the seizure of Nippon Steel assets in the country to compensate Korean men forced to work in Nippon's factories during the Se...Read More
Brazilian flat-rolled steel producer Usiminas has lost the lead in its domestic market due to its strong exposure to the automotive sector, which suffered greatly from the Covid-19 pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets.Brazil's steel industry took a heavy hit from regional restrictions in the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Demand fell significantly in April and recovered at a slow...Read More
BHP plans to shift its coal focus toward premium-quality coking coals and will look at options to divest three of its lower-grade coal assets, it said on Tuesday August 18.The strategic move by the Australian mining major is based on its judgment that premium-quality coking coal will be particularly advantaged over time due to the drive by steelmakers to improve blast furnace productivity and redu...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 19 that are worth another look.South African manganese alloys producer Transalloys will reduce its silico-manganese production by about 30% this year due to weakening market prices, it was revealed on August 19.The Madras...Read More
Harry "Red" Conger has been appointed as the executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Teck Resources, effective September 1.Known throughout the mining industry as "Red," Conger will be responsible for all of Teck's mining and metallurgical operations, projects and joint ventures across the copper, zinc, steelmaking coal and energy business units. Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets andthe reasons for any price moves.Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 19.Please click...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 19 that are worth another look.South African manganese alloys producer Transalloys will reduce its silico-manganese production by about 30% this year due to weakening market prices, it was revealed on August 19.The Madras...Read More
Harry "Red" Conger has been appointed as the executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Teck Resources, effective September 1.Known throughout the mining industry as "Red," Conger will be responsible for all of Teck's mining and metallurgical operations, projects and joint ventures across the copper, zinc, steelmaking coal and energy business units. Read More
Brazilian flat-rolled steel producer Usiminas has lost the lead in its domestic market due to its strong exposure to the automotive sector, which suffered greatly from the Covid-19 pandemic, sources told Fastmarkets.Brazil's steel industry took a heavy hit from regional restrictions in the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Demand fell significantly in April and recovered at a slow...Read More
Tight intermediates availability and a rally in the cobalt hydroxide market brought cobalt metal back in favor with cobalt sulfate refineries looking to cut risk in their feedstock inflows in late July. Until then, cobalt hydroxide payables - the percentage of the metal price buyers pay sellers for cobalt intermediates - had been capped at 70% for at least a year and a half, reflecting ample suppl...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 19.Please click...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange was the standout performer at the close of trading on Wednesday August 19, with steady buying into the afternoon causing the red metal to break through nearby resistance, while zinc futures closed above $2,500 per tonne for the first time since November 2019. The copper price closed at $6,685 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, notching its h...Read More
Global zinc premiums were collectively flat in the week to Tuesday August 18, while an uptick in lead demand in Southeast Asia allowed spot interest to mount, albeit against climbing LME three-month prices for both commodities. Catch-up demand boosts lead business in South Asia Higher offers heard in Shanghai on intermittent opening of arbitrage window; zinc premium holds The European summer slowd...Read More
The European wire rod market was quiet in the week to Wednesday August 19 amid the traditional summer slowdown, while market participants were expecting prices to rise in September, pushed upward by costlier scrap and increased buying activity, sources told Fastmarkets.Southern EuropeFastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh-quality), domestic, delivered Southern Europe, remain...Read More
The price of hollow steel sections in Europe has remained stable over the past week despite previous expectations of an increase, with the slow summer activity precluding any changes, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday August 19.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?540-560 ($643-667) per tonne on Wednesday, unchanged week on week...Read More