Base Metal Stock Articles

CIS STEEL SLAB: Prices keep sliding amid weakening flat steel values in end-user markets

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

Slab export prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) continued to decline in the week to Monday July 19, amid falling finished flat steel values in the region's main destination markets.In Turkey, hot-rolled coil prices dropped in the week to Friday July 16 on low activity in the key export outlets for that product. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HRC, export, f...Read More

RESEARCH: Drop in global auto output causes steel scrap price spreads to widen

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

OUTLOOK: Ferro-chrome market to adapt as tight supply in China runs into Q2

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

RESEARCH: Ferro-alloy prices forecast to remain elevated through Q2 2021 on supply shortfall and rising demand

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

RESEARCH: Tighter trade policy likely to raise global floor for stainless steel prices

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Recent weeks have brought two key developments with regard to trade policy on stainless steel products that will be to the detriment of consumers.In China, the country's stainless steelmakers no longer enjoy a 13% export rebate as of May 1, reducing greatly their incentive to export and instead leading them to focus on supply...Read More

RESEARCH: Ferro-alloy prices to maintain momentum into June, through H2 2021

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

Tech Talk for Tuesday July 20th 2021

20/07/2021 / Staff reporter

U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 17 points in pre-opening trade.Equity index futures were virtually unchanged following release of June U.S. Housing Starts at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an increase to 1.590 million units from 1.572 million units in May. Actual was an increase to 1.64 million units.IBM advanced 4.63 to $142.40 after reporting higher th...Read More

RESEARCH: Welded pipe prices surge on substrate costs

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

RESEARCH: HRC prices strengthen in May, buyer resistance grows

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

RESEARCH: Bullish factors could underpin US HRC prices into Q3 2021

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:?EUR?  US sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum persisting into June. Actual US hot-rolled coil prices averaged $1,553 per ton in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,540 per ton. Prices remain supported by strong underlying sup...Read More

RESEARCH: HDG, tinplate contract prices set for big hike

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

Base metals prices on LME rebound after broad-based weakness on Monday

20 July 2021 / Staff reporter

Base metals prices on the LME were up across the board this morning, Tuesday July 20, while the SHFE followed Monday's weakness, which was triggered by growing fears over the potential impact of the Delta variant of Covid-19 on the global economic recovery.* Gold, the yen and the dollar were stronger and the United States 10-year treasury yield weaker - all signs of a pick-up in haven demand* The...Read More

EUROPE HRC: Trading activity low on seasonal slowdown, limited availability

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

Zinc production in Yunnan to fully resume by mid-June

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

IRON ORE DAILY: Seaborne prices ease amid sintering and emissions restrictions

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

Iron ore prices eased on Monday July 19 amid weaker market sentiment caused by restrictions on sintering and emissions imposed on mills in the steelmaking hub of Tangshan, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.04 per tonne, down $0.39 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $223.02 per tonne, down $0.37 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingd...Read More

China coal giant cuts coal production guidance to 500 mln tonnes by 2025

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

One of China's principal coal-mining groups, Jinneng Holding, has reduced its coal production guidance figure for 2025 to 500 million tonnes from the previous 600 million tonnes, in line with the country's targets for lower carbon emissions, according to a company statement on July 14.Jinneng chairman Guo Jingang said in a company meeting that the goal of "carbon peak, carbon neutral" was not to e...Read More

ENERGY TRANSITION: The complex path to net zero

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk once described the ongoing use of fossil fuels and their generation of a vast carbon footprint as "the dumbest experiment in human history."Not everyone will agree with his assessment of the petroleum, gas and coal sectors, which have powered the world's growth for decades. Nonetheless, the twin goals of supply chain security and sustainability are now driving a t...Read More

HOTTER ON METALS: The knife twist return of the ring

July 20, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from July 16

July 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 5 key stories from July 16

July 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

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

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