Nickel premiums continued to rise in the United States in the week ended Tuesday August 10 due to tight availability, but premiums in other regions remained flat.US premiums up on higher sales despite end to Vale strikeChina's cathodes and briquettes quiet amid firmly closed arb windowQuiet market in Europe.Uptrend continues in US premiumsNickel premiums rose in the United States on continued high...Read More
Metal held outside London Metal Exchange warehouses decreased for the fourth month running, down by 12% to 913,825 tonnes in June from just over 1 million tonnes in May. The LME's latest off-warrant stock report showed a decrease of 338,158 tonnes in June, following a fall of 140,246 tonnes in May.In April, there were 1,010,360 tonnes of aluminium alone outside of LME warehouses.Copper and le...Read More
A summary of the financial performance of Brazilian aluminium producer Companhia Brasileira de Alum?-nio (CBA) for the second quarter of 2020, according to its earnings report released on Tuesday August 10.In brief Total aluminium sales increased year on year during the second quarter amid a "consistent" recovery of Brazilian demand following the 2020 low caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, CBA said....Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday August 11Key drivers The titanium alloy market was steady for the third consecutive week during the week to Wednesday August 11 amid reported buying interest for various grades.The European alloy market is facing a potential shortage of supply from Russia through the rest of the year after new Russian export duties were set from the...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade 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....Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 3 points in pre-opening trade. U.S. equity index futures were quiet prior to release of the July Producer Price Index at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus is an increase of 0.6% versus a gain of 1.0% in June. Excluding food and energy, consensus was a gain of 0.5% versus a gain of 1.0% in June. eBay advanced $1.98 to $70.50 after...Read More
Tin's three-month price reached yet another all-time peak of $35,795 per tonne on Wednesday August 11 on the London Metal Exchange. Most other base metals, copper being the sole exception, were also up while the US Dollar Index pulled back slightly.Months-long supply tightness and continued demand for tin meant that its three-month price has risen by 70% since the start of the year, having been $2...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 11 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal will start up a third rolling mill at its Jo??o Monlevade long steel plant in Brazil's southeastern Minas Gerais state in January 2022, due to strong demand and...Read More
The Cobalt hydroxide payable indicator, min 30% Co, cif China, % payable of Fastmarkets' standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) 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 assessed Cobalt hydroxide p...Read More
Base metals prices were mixed on the London Metal Exchange during morning trading on Wednesday August 11 and were largely consolidating following Tuesday's highs after the United States Senate passed a $550 billion infrastructure package."The passing of the US infrastructure bill bodes well for the base metals as the spending is focused on upgrading the US transport system. Some $550 billion will...Read More
Union leaders and the operating company of Chile's Escondida mine have agreed terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, potentially avoiding a proposed strike at the world's largest copper mine.In a statement reported in the Chliean daily El Mercurio, operating company Minera Escondida said: "The company and the directors of the Union No1 have concluded negotiations [on a] collecti...Read More
Spot ferro-chrome prices in China continued to correct downward after peaking at a 13-year high point at the end of July, despite the continuing output restrictions caused by power supply limitations in a number of production regions.Fastmarkets' price assessment for ferro-chrome, spot, 6-8% C, basis 50% Cr, ddp China, fell by 400-500 yuan to 10,400-10,800 yuan ($1,603-1,665) per tonne on Tuesday...Read More
Union leaders and the operating company of Chile's Escondida mine have agreed terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, potentially avoiding a proposed strike at the world's largest copper mine.In a statement reported in the Chliean daily El Mercurio, operating company Minera Escondida said: "The company and the directors of the Union No1 have concluded negotiations [on a] collecti...Read More
Prices for 300-series stainless scrap grades in the United States have weakened considerably following a downturn in the domestic ferrous scrap trade, falling nickel values on the London Metal Exchange and some consuming stainless mills buying smaller tonnages."We dropped pricing sharply due to indications of limited demand in September and nickel falling," one major processor said."As I've previo...Read More
Turkish steel mills remained out of the deep-sea scrap market on Wednesday August 11, booking no new cargoes, sources told Fastmarkets.With no new transactions heard, the market remained steady.A small number of older cargo deals had come to light at the start of this week, for material...Read More
China's domestic hot-rolled coil prices extended their gains on Wednesday August 11 after futures prices rose for a second straight day on higher market expectations of an output drop and demand recovery from low summer trading.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,820-5,860 yuan ($897-903) per tonne, up by 40-60 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hit an intr...Read More
Australia's Port Hedland shipped lower volumes of iron ore in July month on month, according to data from the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) released on Wednesday August 11.The port on the northern coast of Western Australia exported 44.3 million tonnes of iron ore in July - a 12.1% drop compared with the 50.4 million tonnes shipped in June. On a year-on-year basis, exports...Read More
Tin's three-month price reached yet another all-time peak of $35,795 per tonne on Wednesday August 11 on the London Metal Exchange. Most other base metals, copper being the sole exception, were also up while the US Dollar Index pulled back slightly.Months-long supply tightness and continued demand for tin meant that its three-month price has risen by 70% since the start of the year, having been $2...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 11.Please click...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday August 10 that are worth another look.Germany's Thyssenkrupp ended force majeure at its Steel Europe division on August 6, the company's spokesperson told Fastmarkets on August 10.If any member was going...Read More