Lithium fans, take note. The metal's crown as the leading raw material in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is facing increasing competition from other products such as cobalt and nickel. Lithium has hogged the top spot in EV batteries for some time, largely due to its early adoption in technology developed by Tesla. For more than a decade, the US-based company has been using lithium-ion batte...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange put in a strong performance on the afternoon of Wednesday January 24, supported by the weaker dollar, to close in positive territory across the board.The three-month nickel price ended more than 5% higher than Tuesday's closing price after hitting its highest since June 2015. Volumes were also high today, with more than 18,000 lots traded by 17:15 Lo...Read More
Copper premiums in the United States and Europe were little changed on Tuesday January 23, although US participants are gaining more confidence as the year progresses, while in China premiums once again saw downward pressure on sluggish demand. US participants growing more optimistic due to construction figures and freight costs Chinese premiums falling due to softening demand European...Read More
Lithium fans, take note. The metal's crown as the leading raw material in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is facing increasing competition from other products such as cobalt and nickel. Lithium has hogged the top spot in EV batteries for some time, largely due to its early adoption in technology developed by Tesla. For more than a decade, the US-based company has been using lithium-ion batte...Read More
The construction of SSR Mining's project in Argentina, projected to produce more than 15,875 tonnes per year of lead metal, started this month with the first ore feed expected in the second half of 2018. This year's guidance for lead production is up to 12.5 million lb (5,670 tonnes), SSR spokeswoman Stacey Pavlova told Metal Bulletin. The first ores from the Chinchillas lead, silver and zinc proj...Read More
Lithium fans, take note. The metal's crown as the leading raw material in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is facing increasing competition from other products such as cobalt and nickel. Lithium has hogged the top spot in EV batteries for some time, largely due to its early adoption in technology developed by Tesla. For more than a decade, the US-based company has been using lithium-ion batte...Read More
Silicon metal prices in the United States will find limited support from US President Donald Trump's decision to impose hefty duties on imported solar panels, industry sources said. While the measure could encourage local production and consequently have an impact on the demand for silicon, the key driver for the metal's price will be the final determinations on the trade investigations of US sili...Read More
Turkish steel mills returned to the deep-sea scrap markets for material at lower prices on Wednesday January 24, after a short break for price negotiations.Metal Bulletin's daily index for Northern European HMS 1&2 (80:20) closed the day at $346.50 per tonne cfr, down by $7.44 per tonne day-on-day.The daily index...Read More
The construction of SSR Mining's project in Argentina, projected to produce more than 15,875 tonnes per year of lead metal, started this month with the first ore feed expected in the second half of 2018. This year's guidance for lead production is up to 12.5 million lb (5,670 tonnes), SSR spokeswoman Stacey Pavlova told Metal Bulletin. The first ores from the Chinchillas lead, silver and zinc proj...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) have risen in Southern Europe due to lower availability of the material from the region's mills and a lack of competitive import offers, sources told Metal Bulletin this week.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic HRC in Southern Europe went up to ?,?530-545 ($650-669) per tonne ex-works this week, compared with ?,?520-540 per tonne ex-works...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Southern Europe are expected to rise following an increase in slab prices, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday January 24.A rise in slab prices has had a notable effect on Southern European prices because the majority of plate in the region is produced by re-rollers in Italy.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic grade-S235JR heavy steel...Read More
China's domestic prices for hot-rolled coil recovered some losses on Wednesday January 24 with the paper market continuing to trend upward throughout the day.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,080-4,100 yuan ($637-640) per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonne Northern China (Tianjin): 3,940-3,960 yuan per tonne, up 10 yuan per tonneSpot prices edged up during the day due to a strengthening paper market. T...Read More
Domestic prices for hollow steel sections in Southern Europe are likely to rise over the next month, with producers facing a shortage of hot-rolled coil (HRC) in the region, sources have told Metal Bulletin.HRC prices have enjoyed a strong start to 2018 in Southern Europe thanks to a lack of available imported material at workable prices and problems with output at Italian steelmaker Ilva."[Steelm...Read More
European domestic prices for steel beams have remained unchanged this week, with solid demand and well-booked mill rolling schedules supporting the market, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday January 24."There is no problem at all in the beam market. Demand is good," one stockholder said."As far as we are seeing, there is no weakening in prices," one producer source told Metal Bulletin."Mill...Read More
Domestic prices for steel wire rod narrowed upward by ?,?20 per tonne in Southern Europe this week as mills in the region raised their offer prices, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday January 24.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic mesh-quality wire rod in Southern Europe narrowed upward to ?,?540-550 ($662-675) per tonne delivered on January 24, from ?,?520-550 per tonne de...Read More
Turkish steel mills returned to the deep-sea scrap markets for material at lower prices on Wednesday January 24, after a short break for price negotiations.Metal Bulletin's daily index for Northern European HMS 1&2 (80:20) closed the day at $346.50 per tonne cfr, down by $7.44 per tonne day-on-day.The daily index...Read More
Iron ore prices remained steady around $74 per tonne cfr China on Wednesday January 24 amid mixed signals from China's steel and futures markets.Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $74.53 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: up by $0.24 per tonne Month-to-date average: $76.38 per tonne Metal Bulletin's 58% Fe...Read More
Prices for iron ore fines were relatively steady on Wednesday January 24 amid mixed signals from China's steel and futures markets, but premiums for lumps continued to rise.Key drivers China's steel futures continued to outperform those for iron ore, with the benchmark rebar and hot rolled coil contracts ending around 1% higher than the previous day's settlement price, while that for iron ore clos...Read More
Iranian export billet and slab prices strengthened over the week ended on Wednesday January 24 with renewed bookings, Metal Bulletin has heard.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for Iranian export billet was $508-510 per tonne fob on January 24, against $500-510 per tonne fob a week earlier.Khouzestan Steel, the country's largest billet exporter, was seeking $515-520 per tonne fob in...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices held steady on Wednesday January 24 with rising futures providing some support to the spot market.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,850-3,900 yuan ($601-609) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,900-3,950 yuan per tonne, unchanged Rebar futures experienced a slight increase during the day, which failed to stimulate too much buying interest in the spot m...Read More