Prices for carbon steel plate in the United States shot up after three weeks of stability following a mill price hike, and market participants expect monthly increases from domestic steelmakers will continue through the second half of the year.Fastmarkets' weekly assessment for steel cut-to-length plate carbon grade, fob mill US reached an all-time high of $80 per hundredweight ($1,600 per short t...Read More
Crude steel production cuts that are gradually being implemented in China have resulted in a switch in preference for iron ore brands among steelmakers in the country, sources told Fastmarkets.While the overall demand for iron ore has started to weaken, low-grade fines are generating more buying interest, sources said.A month ago, low-grade fines started to gain favor among mills amid weakening ma...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 10 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures were virtually unchanged following release of the June Durable Goods Orders report at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an increase of 2.2% versus a gain of 2.3% in May. Actual was an increase of 0.08% . Excluding transportation orders, consensus was an increase of 0.8% versus a...Read More
Typhoon In-fa made landfall in eastern China's Zhejiang province on Friday July 23, resulting in a serious drop in demand for steel products and disruptions to transport in coastal areas.Zhejiang and Shanghai have had heavy rain since Friday night, and the typhoon was forecast to reach Jiangsu and Shandong provinces in the next two days.Construction sites have gradually been stopping work since la...Read More
China's leading stainless steel producer, Tsingshan Group, has set its tender price for August-delivery ferro-chrome at 10,795 yuan ($1,665) per tonne, the company announced on Monday July 26. This is its highest tender price since September 2008.The tender price is also 2,400 yuan per tonne (29%) than what the eastern Chinese mill had sought for July-delivery material.Supply interruptions Market...Read More
CIS slab exporters remained quiet this week, waiting for the return of Turkish customers from a week-long religious holiday, sources told Fastmarkets."I think sales will wait to see the reaction of Turkish market and prices this week," a Russian producer source said."[Ukraine's] Metinvest is looking for bids but not really offering a price," a trader said.Another trading source said that offers he...Read More
Copper's three-month price on the London Metal Exchange rose to $9,809.50 per tonne at the close of trading on Monday July 26, an increase which led most other prices in the complex higher as well.The red metal closed near its intraday high of $9,826.50 per tonne, the highest for copper since June 15. Intense buying took its volumes on Monday to 24,000 lots traded by 5pm, also the highest since th...Read More
(Updates with prices) LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - Copper prices rose on Monday asfloods in top consumer China sparked demand hopes at a time wheninventories were falling, while a softer dollar also supportedprices. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was up3.2% at $9,820 per tonne by 1700 GMT, after touching its highestsince June 15 at $9,819.50, in its fifth straight session ofgains. Fl...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) is leading an industry-wide pushback against the country's proposed export tax of 5% on steel billet, it said on Friday July 23."The proposal to increase export taxes on billet and reduce import taxes on finished steel products is not suitable with the current situation of steel production," the association said.This was in response to domestic demand for steel...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 23 that are worth another look.Slab export prices from Brazil have edged down, with most market participants remaining cautious and holding onto their inventory positions.The flooding caused by torrential rains that have battered central...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were up by an average of 1.1% this morning, Monday July 26, while they followed Friday’s gains on the London Metal Exchange that averaged 1.3%.* Chinese equities under pressure after authorities tighten regulations* Pre-market western equity index futures showing a weaker startBase metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mainly weaker...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 6 points in pre-opening trade. Weakness was led by Chinese stocks following a crackdown by the Chinese government on Tech Education companies. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 82.06 to 2,467.44.Facebook added $0.59 to $370.39 after Mizuho raised its target price from $400 to $450.Starbucks added $3.34 to $129.36 a...Read More
The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) is leading an industry-wide pushback against the country's proposed export tax of 5% on steel billet, it said on Friday July 23."The proposal to increase export taxes on billet and reduce import taxes on finished steel products is not suitable with the current situation of steel production," the association said.This was in response to domestic demand for steel...Read More
London Metal Exchange ring dealing members have a decision to make - whether to remain one or not.The LME has just announced it will reopen the open outcry trading floor, which was temporarily closed due to Covid-19, on September 6.Its plan, however, comes with a twist; some ring dealers say, a knife.The official prices - which the global trade and industry use as the global reference for physical...Read More
Domestic and export prices for Chinese stainless steel prices rose sharply over the week ended Wednesday July 21 on tight supply, which led to increased expectations of an export tariff to ease the shortage.DomesticStainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 19,000-20,100 ($2,939-3,109) per tonne, up by 1,000-1,300 yuan per tonne from a week earlierPrices have risen to their hi...Read More