European buyers of hot-rolled coil have been in "wait-and-see" mode so domestic prices were fairly stable on Wednesday August 4, sources have told Fastmarkets.Sentiment in the market turned negative despite the seasonal slowdown, due to competitive import offers. Although the volumes available have not been significant, according to estimates by market participants, they will still affect sentimen...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Global welded pipe prices surged in May as strong demand and still-insufficient supply lifted flat steel prices.The biggest jumps were seen in China, which was hit by the unexpected announcement of the elimination of export rebates on welded pipes in April. Chinese seaborne prices reached $1,570 per tonne fob for longitudina...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Bulk ferro-alloy prices have shown impressive gains again this month, with ferro-silicon, silicon metal and manganese alloy prices all making significant increases. Noble alloy markets also enjoyed upward momentum, with both vanadium and molybdenum prices rising sharply.Recovering demand from steelmakers globally, together w...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
Inner Mongolia, China's ferro-chrome production heartland, has imposed restrictions on its metallurgical sector in a move that has fueled the high-carbon ferro-chrome markets in China and Europe, and although this may ease off, the gains were unlikely to be lost while alloy ramp-ups continue, sources have told Fastmarkets.The decision to restrict energy consumption in Inner Mongolia since December...Read More
The latest forecasts and analysis of the ferrous scrap and iron metallics market from the Fastmarkets research team are ready to be viewed.Stifled automotive output this year, driven by a supply shortage of semiconductor chips used in vehicles, has tightened prime scrap availability and widened the spreads between this grade of steelmaking raw material and obsolete scrap.While wide prime-over-obso...Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Janie Davies, Cristina Belda...Read More
A summary of London Metal Exchange warrant premiums from across the globe for the week to Wednesday August 4Please click...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday August 4 that are worth another look.Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), Russia's largest steelmaker, will increase output of hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) coil by starting up a new line at its Lipetsk site in the second half of 2022.Read More
Steelmakers in China are preparing to join the country's national carbon trading market by measuring their emission levels to secure carbon quotas that match their output.The China Iron & Steel Association has instructed member mills to submit their production and carbon emission details to it by August 14 to study the quota for every mill. The steel sector is among the next slew of major industri...Read More
Century Aluminum is on track to complete the expansion at its Mount Holly smelter in Goose Creek, South Carolina, by the end of the year, allowing it to ramp up to 75% of its 229,000 tonnes annual production capacity.Second quarter 2021 ended June 30 in brief Century's adjusted earnings before income, tax, depreciation and amortization was $34.4 million, an increase of $54.1 million from the previ...Read More
The United States copper premium continued to rise in the week to Wednesday August 4 and the Shanghai copper premium also rose due to a high import appetite despite arbitrage losses, sources told Fastmarkets.US copper premium range widens upwardFastmarkets adjusted its copper grade 1 cathode premium, ddp Midwest US to 8-9 cents per lb, the highest assessment in over a decade. This reflects a...Read More
A summary of the financial results for US-based aluminium producer Novelis in April-June 2021, the first quarter of its business year, released on Wednesday August 4.In brief Novelis' adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) for the quarter were $555 million, up by 119% year-on-year. Net income attributable to its common shareholders was $240 million, up fro...Read More
While 300-series stainless scrap prices in the United States continued to inch higher on strong nickel prices, a correction in the domestic ferrous scrap market has limited growth for 400-series prices, and participants indicated the stainless scrap market could be nearing a peak."The market for stainless scrap in the USA is overblown. The largest processors have seemingly been in a battle for mar...Read More
An overview of the specialty steel raw materials markets in Europe and their latest price movesJanie Davies, Dalila...Read More
Fastmarkets' Ferrous Analytics report helps subscribers keep track of hot metal costs and steel production spreads in China, along with key pricing components of the steelmaking raw materials supply chain in Asia.Read More
Export prices for steel slab from Iran dropped in early August under pressure from lower demand for flat steel products in Asia, which is the main outlet market for Iranian slab.In Vietnam, one of the major importers of hot-rolled coil in Asia, prices dropped recently on falling demand caused by the increased numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.Given these conditions, customers in Asia lowere...Read More
The chrome ore market for sales into China rose with fresh liquidity being reported in the week ended Tuesday August 3, following strong recent gains in the downstream alloy market.Fastmarkets' chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index, basis 42%, cif China, settled at $182 per tonne on August 3, up by 4.6% from $174 per tonne one week earlier."With the profit available from ferro-chrome prod...Read More
A rebound in Chinese ferrous futures prices on Wednesday August 4 has led to increased interest in booking seaborne steel billet cargoes in China, sources told Fastmarkets.Sharp drops in ferrous futures on both Monday and Tuesday sapped sentiment from the Chinese market, with buyer indications heard as low as $660 per tonne cfr China for 3sp billet on Tuesday.This was down sharply from the la...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.United States sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum carrying into June. Actual US HRC prices averaged $1,712 per tonne in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,698 per tonne. Strong underlying supply-and-demand conditions both in the US and globally are supporting prices as well as long lead...Read More