Fastmarkets published its Commonwealth of Independent States export billet index later than scheduled on Wednesday October 13 due to a technical error, but it is now appearing as normal.Fastmarkets calculated the steel billet index, export, fob Black Sea, CIS, at $621 per tonne on October 13. The index was published in Fastmarkets' pricing database, MInD, later than scheduled due to a technical er...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-dipped galvanized coil decreased across Europe in the week ended Wednesday October 13 due to weaker demand from distributors and the automotive sector, sources told Fastmarkets.Sources expect distributors to return to the market in November. While the majority of European distributors have sufficient stocks to last until the year-end, they will need to restock for the first...Read More
Higher or more volatile prices for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements could slow global progress toward a clean-energy future or make it more costly, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).In its World Energy Outlook report released on Wednesday October 13, the IEA said that price rallies for key minerals in 2021 could increase the costs o...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed at the 5pm close on Wednesday October 13, with zinc performing particularly well during the day's trading.The LME three-month price of zinc led the complex on Wednesday; it was up by 4.4% to $3,401.50 per tonne from $3,263 per tonne at Tuesday's close, after hitting an intraday high of $3,440 per tonne."LME fund managers turned bullish tow...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday October 13.Key drivers The European ferro-titanium price range widened higher in the week to Wednesday October 13 after new deals were reported, although overall trading activity was slow amid muted consumer buying interest. There was industry talk of some lower-priced deals, although sources said these were outliers to typical trad...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday October 11 that are worth another look.Global cobalt supply can't keep pace with surging cobalt consumption because its production is tied to copper and nickel mining rather than underlying demand, the chief executive officer of diversified mining company Eurasian Resources Group...Read More
China's Zijin Mining Group is to buy Canada's Neo Lithium Corp for about C$960 million ($769 million), according to a company filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) on Monday October 11.At about C$6.50 per share in cash, the offer price represents a premium of approximately 36% over Neo Lithium's 20-day volume-weighted average price as of October 8 on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) Ven...Read More
Canadian junior miner Rock Tech Lithium plans to develop a battery-grade lithium hydroxide conversion plant in the German region of Brandenburg, it announced on Monday October 11.The company is also developing a junior spodumene project in Ontario, Canada. The total investment required for the conversion plant in Germany would be ?,?470 million ($544 million), the company said. Once operational,...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
Tsingshan Group has set its tender price for October-delivery high-carbon ferro-chrome at 9,995 yuan ($1,550) per tonne, the Chinese stainless steelmaker said on Monday October 11.The tender price was unchanged from what the eastern Chinese mill - the country's largest ferro-chrome buyer - had sought for September-delivery material, suggesting that it chose not to acknowledge a recent price surge...Read More
Deep-sea scrap import prices in Turkey have continued to increase due to strong demand from Turkish steelmakers, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday October 12.Late on Monday October 11, a steel mill in the Iskenderun region booked a Baltic Sea cargo, comprising 34,000 tonnes of HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $463 per tonne and 2,000 tonnes of shredded at $478 per tonne, along with 4,000 tonnes of...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
An overview of the chrome ore and alloy markets in Asia, Europe and the United States on Tuesday October 12 and their latest price moves.United States The high-carbon ferro-chrome market jumped significantly, catching up with large gains in overseas markets. A re-opening of the spot market allowed suppliers to successfully elevate offers in line with the global market. Given the current tigh...Read More
Global cobalt supply can't keep pace with surging cobalt consumption because its production is tied to copper and nickel mining rather than underlying demand, the chief executive officer of diversified mining company Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) said.The issue at the heart of industrially mined cobalt supply is that it is almost exclusively a by-product of copper and nickel mining, Benedikt Sobo...Read More
Ecobat's Stolberg lead smelter will remain shut until spring 2022; regional tightness is pushing more consumers to look for spot units.The German lead plant, which declared force majeure due to floods in July, is still undergoing repair work, a company statement seen by Fastmarkets on Tuesday October 12 said. The smelter is in the process of procuring parts and equipment for the rebuild, the...Read More
Base metals prices on both the Shanghai Futures Exchange and London Metal Exchange were, for the most part, up across the board on the morning of Monday October 11, along with Asia-Pacific equities.Metals stronger despite strong US treasury yields Brent crude oil approaching $84 per barrelDisappointing US employment report may hold US Federal Reserve back and give inflation a freer hand Base metal...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
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
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
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