Stainless steel prices continue to register new highs around the end of the first half of 2021 and steelmakers continue to enjoy outsized margins.They have responded in recent months by increasing their output, which has now pushed above pre-pandemic levels and will eventually restore balance to the market.For now, though, supply gaps are still being filled and buyers find themselves competing aga...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
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mixed on the morning of Monday July 19, with nickel and tin the standout performers, driven higher by supply disruptions.United States 10-year treasury yields continue to trend lower, despite inflationary pressures in the countryBase metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed this morning, with nickel up by...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Domestic steel rebar prices in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow remained flat in the week to July 19 due to slower trading activity, sources told Fastmarkets.August rebar offer from key local suppliers to the region were broadly unchanged from July levels, despite an anticipated downward correction due toa temporary export duty on steel products in Russia starting August...Read More
European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.On July 14, the European Commission adopted a package of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targe...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Market activity in the European Union's hot-rolled coil sector has been limited due to the seasonal slowdown and long lead times, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 19.In addition to seasonal factors, buyers have shown limited interest in acquiring flat steel due to sufficient stocks and long lead times from domestic and overseas suppliers.Credit lines for buyers have also been exhausted over...Read More
Activity in the EU hot-rolled coil market in the week to Friday July 16 was low due to a seasonal demand slowdown and limited availability.Buyers were holding back from acquiring material due to the summer holiday slowdown and uncertainty about the price trend. Domestic prices have remained high despite a slight correction lower while buyers, who have sufficient stocks for a couple of months, pref...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Australia-listed Vulcan Energy has signed a binding offtake agreement to supply South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) with battery grade lithium hydroxide from it's 'zero carbon' facility in Germany, the producer said on Monday July 19.Vulcan will supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to LGES for an initial five-year term. Commercial deliveries are set to commence in 2025 and there is an option...Read More
German steelmakers settled their monthly steel scrap contracts for July at higher prices due to continuous tight availability in the market, sources told Fastmarkets.Prices for new scrap grades, such as E8, have risen higher compared with other grades due to short supply from both automotive producers and flat steel service centres. Stoppages and reduced production rates in the automotive sector r...Read More
Prices for refined selenium in China fell in the week to July 19 with cargo holders lowering their offer prices in an attempt to trigger demand in an illiquid market, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for selenium 99.9% Se min, in-whs China was 130-190 yuan ($20-29) per kg on Friday July 16, down by 15 yuan per kg or 8.6% from 150-200 yuan per kg the previous week.The l...Read More
A combination of concerns over the spread of the delta variant of Covid-19, a sturdy dollar index and falling US equities triggered a sell-off in London Metal Exchange prices during the afternoon's trade on Monday July 19.Nickel's three-month price showed the biggest drop of the day, down by 3.2% at the close to $18,462 per tonne, from Friday's $19,070 per tonne price at the same time."Nickel pric...Read More
Ports' operations in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal have slightly improved, while cobalt hydroxide market participants wait for a clearer direction, sources told Fastmarkets.Ports and terminal operations in Durban and Richard Bay in KwaZula-Natal, South Africa have slowly begun to normalize while the country has prioritized recovery after recent civil unrest. Most participants held watchful attitude...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Prices for both new steel and aluminium scrap materials continued to rise across the UK and Europe in the week to Friday July 16, amid further manufacturing disruptions, causing the global scrap supply deficit to worsen.Manufacturing shutdowns and automotive supply chain halts - and increased demand for aluminium products, which are commanding record-high premiums - have created a huge imbalance i...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
Alumina prices on an fob Australia basis were at a four-month high on Monday July 19 due to an increase in liquidity, with cargoes changing hands at higher prices.Fastmarkets assessed its daily alumina index, fob Australia, at $289.36 per tonne on Monday, the highest since March 19.Demand for cargoes has increased over the past week. But the rise in prices also related to concern in the market abo...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 16 that are worth another look.Flat-rolled steel import prices increased in South America during the week ended July 16 amid higher freight rates from China and the first deals for September-shipment cargoes of Brazilian and Japanese origin,...Read More