The United States' October ferrous scrap trade's stressful late start and private deals added confusion to a scenario that was already perplexing after one steel producer made an unexpected debut splash, leap-frogging into the market in late September at flat pricing for prime grades."The market was a mess, but that is due to prices hitting an inflection point and bottoming, which is strange becau...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:Bulk and noble alloys both moved largely in line with our price forecasts globally over the past month, though several markets surprised to the upside, exceeding our forecast gains. Stronger-than-forecast pricing momentum was primarily triggered by supply shortages in numerous...Read More
The London Metal Exchange has registered the first sustainability disclosures on its new digital credentials register, LMEpassport, it announced on Tuesday October 12.LMEpassport is a platform register that enables a voluntary market-wide sustainable metals labelling program.Metals producers Anglo American Platinum, Antofagasta plc, Boliden, Companhia Brasileira de Alumnio (CBA), Freeport-McMoran,...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices were down on Tuesday October 12 amid limited trading at Chinese ports, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $129.00 per tonne, down $6.03 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $130.17 per tonne, down $8.93 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $98.51 per tonne, down $7.08 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin fi...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the 5pm close on Tuesday October 12 amid concerns over inflation, and rising energy costs and power outages in China.The three-month price of aluminium continued its upward momentum during Tuesday's trading, closing at $3,068 per tonne, up from $3,064 per tonne on Monday.The lightweight metal hit an intraday high of $3,114.50 per tonne...Read More
Chinese domestic rebar prices continued to rise on Monday October 11 after steel mills increased their list prices, but market participants remain pessimistic about demand and prices for the rest of October.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,940-5,990 yuan ($923-931) per tonne, up by 30-40 yuan per tonneThe major eastern China producer Shagang raised its list prices for HRB400 16-25mm rebar...Read More
Activity in the European hot-rolled coil market remained subdued on Tuesday October 12, with sentiment still bearish, sources have told Fastmarkets.The majority of European buyers have sufficient stocks to last until the end of the year and have only been purchasing smaller lots to restock particular specifications of coil. Distributors, however, were expected to return to the market for orders in...Read More
China will allow its floating electricity prices to rise further from October 15 to stabilize supply amid a shortage in the country, according to a notice released by the country's National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC), its top economic planner, on Tuesday October 12.Electricity supplied to the national grid is priced using a formula that comprises a base price and a floating price, acco...Read More
Interest in importing steel billet fell in China on Tuesday October 12 amid a fall in the country's domestic billet market on the same day, sources have told Fastmarkets.A sharp drop in ferrous futures markets in China on Tuesday due to market expectations of a rise in Chinese steel output over the short term was also accompanied by a weakening in physical markets.Local billet prices in Jiang...Read More
The London Metal Exchange is partnering with the digital metals trading platform Metalshub to establish a spot trading platform and marketplace, the exchange said.Initially focused on base metals, the platform will be run by Metalshub and will exist in parallel with the LME's existing derivative contracts and trading mechanisms. Users of the spot trading platform will be directed to the Metalshub...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Tuesday October 12 amid weaker demand and increasingly bearish sentiment among market participants. Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,920-5,960 yuan ($918-924) per tonne, down by 20-30 yuan per tonneCost pressures resulting from elevated rebar prices - which are at historical highs - resulted in contractors in the construction sector reducing their procu...Read More
Spot prices for hot-rolled coil in China fell sharply on Tuesday October 12 after futures prices tumbled on potential increases in supply.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,750-5,760 yuan ($891-892) per tonne, down by 110-130 yuan per tonne The most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange shed more than 200 yuan per tonne, or 3.58%, on Tuesday, marking the biggest one-day loss sin...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States remained under $97 per hundredweight ($1,940 per short ton) after market participants said restocking is not widely needed and that pricing may have peaked.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $96.89 per cwt ($1,937.80 per ton) on Tuesday October 12, little-changed from $96.83 per cwt on Monday October 11 but down...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday October 12 that are worth another look.A sharp rise in electricity prices has forced Spanish stainless long steel producer Sidenor Aceros Especiales to suspend production, Fastmarkets has heard.The London Metal Exchange has...Read More
Market participants were bullish on the Japanese scrap markets amid the surge in Japan's October Kanto Tetsugen auction price, sources told Fastmarkets on Tuesday October 12. Japan's Kanto Tetsugen auction closes $61 per tonne higher month on monthTaiwan returns from holidayPrices for imported material to China increase amid tight domestic supplyJapanJapan's October Kanto Tetsugen auction conclude...Read More
Power cuts remained a prominent factor in China through the third quarter of 2021 as the world's second-largest economy grappled with soaring coal prices and its own strict limits on energy consumption - put in place to help the country achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.An increasing number of factories - especially those in energy intensive industries - have suffered from curbs to their power usa...Read More
The London Metal Exchange has registered the first sustainability disclosures on its new digital credentials register, LMEpassport, it announced on Tuesday October 12.LMEpassport is a platform register that enables a voluntary market-wide sustainable metals labelling program.Metals producers Anglo American Platinum, Antofagasta plc, Boliden, Companhia Brasileira de Alumnio (CBA), Freeport-McMoran,...Read More
Export prices for Chinese steel cold-rolled coil and hot-dipped galvanized coil have moved slightly higher from those seen in late September, while trading liquidity remained quiet.Demand for Chinese CRC and HDG has been poor in the week to Tuesday October 12, with buyers shifting their attention to cheaper resources from other origins and overall demand weak due to Covid-19 pandemic situations ac...Read More
China will allow its floating electricity prices to rise further from October 15 to stabilize supply amid a shortage in the country, according to a notice released by the country's National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC), its top economic planner, on Tuesday October 12.Electricity supplied to the national grid is priced using a formula that comprises a base price and a floating price, acco...Read More
Coking coal prices in both the cfr China and fob Australia markets held largely steady on Tuesday October 12, mainly due to a lack of buying activity, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $608.95 per tonne, up $0.83 per tonne Hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $558.30 per tonne, down $0.03 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $406.30 p...Read More