China's domestic rebar demand - and prices - picked up slightly on Tuesday September 28, with concerns over how electricity supply restrictions would affect the market appearing to die down.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,790-5,830 yuan ($897-904) per tonne, up by 10 yuan per tonneThe construction sector appears to be spared by the power supply restrictions being implemented across many parts...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.As we approach the end of the first half of 2021, steel markets in Europe and the United States continue to heat up. This six-month period is largely unprecedented, with both steel prices and steelmakers' margins hitting a number of new record highs throughout.The rally is likely nearing its end, however, with global steel ou...Read More
An overview of the chrome ore and alloy markets in Asia, Europe and the United States on Tuesday September 28 and their latest price moves.China Imported charge chrome prices continued to rise strongly; consumers who needed spot material in the tight market accepted higher offers.Spot ferro-chrome prices surged in the past week amid strict electricity controls in major production hubs, which tight...Read More
European steel companies must scale up their decarbonization technologies within the coming decade or risk exhausting their allocated emissions allowances early, according to a report released on Tuesday September 14.The report, "Steeling for Net Zero," by climate researcher Industry Tracker, found that selected European steel companies have less than 26% of their carbon budget remaining and must...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:US prices for hot-rolled coil moved in line with our forecasts in August, averaging $1,910 per ton, within 1% accuracy of our forecast of $1,925 per ton. The market has achieved much-needed stability in recent weeks, with prices fluctuating in the range of $1,900-1,94...Read More
Pessimistic buyers caused the downtrend in the export market for flat steel products from the Commonwealth of Independent States downtrend to continue in the week to Monday September 27.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel hot-rolled coil, export, fob Black Sea, CIS was $830-855 per tonne on Monday, down by $10 from $840-865 per tonne a week before."Buyers think that offers will go lower...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices fell on Tuesday September 28; market participants have almost finished pre-holiday restocking and more provinces in China have places further limits on electricity consumption and steelmaking production, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $112.06 per tonne, down $7.25 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $113.45 per tonne, down $...Read More
Seaborne cfr prices improved on Tuesday September 28 due to tight seaborne coking coal supply in the cfr spot market and active trading in China's ports, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $597.06 per tonne, up $2.50 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $538.65 per tonne, up $8.83 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $405.14 per tonne, d...Read More
Zinc producers in China's southwestern province of Yunnan should be able to fully resume their operations by mid-June, sources said.Yunnan will remove its power restrictions by the end of June that have stunted local zinc output, the provincial energy bureau said.A few zinc smelters in Yunnan have already resumed production, however, sources that spoke to Fastmarkets said.Production capa...Read More
Copper concentrates shipment from MMG's Las Bambas mine in Peru will be delayed after operations were disrupted by a community blockade, the company said at a regulatory filing on Monday September 27.The Australian-Chinese miner said in a notice to Hong Kong Stock Exchange that its mining supply could not be transported due to community protests in...Read More
Further reductions in Chinese steel mill operations due to ongoing power shortages are likely to hamper demand for imported semi-finished steel and steel scrap in the country, sources told Fastmarkets this week.Draconian restrictions on power supplies in China have led to a raft of electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers and re-rollers in key provinces such as Jiangsu, Yunnan and Zhejiang to either...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday September 28 that are worth another look.The Brazilian steel and aluminium sectors are preparing for a period of short electricity supply in the coming months due to a persistent drought in a...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key ferro-alloy forecast highlights:?EUR? Impressive advances in ore and alloy prices persisted in March, with most markets posting significant price gains. Strengthening demand from steelmakers along with supply shortages and depleted inventories in numerous markets, as well as freight and transportation...Read More
The Brazilian steel and aluminium sectors are preparing for a period of short electricity supply in the coming months due to a persistent drought in a country heavily reliant on hydroelectric power generation.A drought has reduced water reservoirs in Brazil, mainly in southeastern and midwestern states, leading to an electricity cost spike and fears of blackouts or even mandatory power rationing t...Read More
(Updates number of rescued workers) Sept 28 (Reuters) - Vale SA said on Tuesday that35 of its employees who were trapped in a Canadian mine hadreturned to the surface and four more were on their way out.On Monday, the Brazilian miner said 39 mine workers had beentrapped underground since Sunday at its Totten mine in Sudbury,Canada. Vale said earlier on Tuesday it expected all employees tosurface b...Read More
For aluminium market participants globally, the global energy shortage is one of the many shortages producers of the light metal are facing.Market participants say the energy crunch, caused by a lack of incentive to produce additional supply when energy prices hit lows in 2020, will particularly be felt by producers who have large exposures to the spot energy markets, although many say that most s...Read More
Fastmarkets proposes changes to the name and specifications of its UG2 chrome ore price index.Fastmarkets proposes to change the specification for its chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China to include MG material and to amend some qualities, including to clarify a base chrome iron ratio and to implement a normalization process to meet this base level. Fastmarkets...Read More
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the publication timing of its ferro-chrome benchmark indicator and its ferro-chrome cif China price.For its ferro-chrome lumpy Cr benchmark indicator, charge basis 52% (and high carbon), Europe and ferro-chrome 50% Cr import, cif main Chinese ports price assessment, Fastmarkets proposes changing the publication time.The proposed specifications would be (proposed...Read More
Tin's futures contract fell by 3.9% on Monday September 27, and most other London Metal Exchange prices were also lower on the day, with somewhat bearish sentiment still holding in the complex.Tin's three-month price was at $35,100 per tonne on Monday at 5pm in London, decreasing from $36,539 per tonne at the same time on Friday.Amid concerns surrounding the supply of the metal given ongoing...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday September 27 that are worth another look.Brazil's Usiminas is halting its No2 blast furnace at Ipatinga for another 90-150 days after an incident on Friday, the flat steel producer said on Monday September 27.For aluminium market participants...Read More