China's domestic rebar price dropped on Tuesday July 20 due to weak demand caused by adverse weather in large parts of the country, sources told Fastmarkets.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,220-5,240 yuan ($804-807) per tonne, down by 10-20 yuan per tonneThere was heavy rain in central China's Henan province and southern China's Guangdong province on July 20, and large...Read More
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry in an open-consultation process on the pricing methodology for its Northern Europe and United States hot-rolled coil indices. The consultation, which began June 16 and ended on Friday July 16, was done as part of its annual methodology review process in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for pri...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday July 20 that are worth another look,Shipments and distribution of steel in Germany have been disrupted by the recent flooding in the country, pushing flat steel producer Thyssenkrupp to declare force majeure, sources told Fastmarkets...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange performed well on Tuesday July 20, despite strong headwinds from rising coronavirus cases and a strong United States Dollar Index."The sell-off on Monday July 19 across the LME base metals complex was triggered by a set of negative macro dynamics, which spooked global investors," Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida said. "Risk sentiment turned very negat...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices across China's domestic market edged lower on Tuesday July 20 and futures prices fell following Beijing's latest pledge to ensure stable prices for commodities.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,850-5,930 yuan ($903-915) per tonne, down by 20-30 yuan per tonneThe most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange slipped to a one-week low of 5,822 yuan per tonne in e...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange performed well on Tuesday July 20, despite strong headwinds from rising coronavirus cases and a strong United States Dollar Index."The sell-off on Monday July 19 across the LME base metals complex was triggered by a set of negative macro dynamics, which spooked global investors," Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida said. "Risk sentiment turned very negat...Read More
Turkish steel mills remained silent on Tuesday July 20, with no bookings heard due to the ongoing week-long Eid al-Adha public holiday, sources told Fastmarkets.The Turkish deep sea scrap market has remained silent since material was last booked on Tuesday July 13.A public holiday on Thursday 15 July also slowed any possible trading...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
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
Several steelmakers in China stopped issuing export offers this week, while others sharply increased their offer prices to overseas buyers, suggesting that the Chinese government's desire to see production cuts is starting to have an impact.Steel mills, including Shandong Iron & Steel and Yingkou Medium Plate Co, have issued no export offers this week, with limited availability forcing them to pri...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
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
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
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
Nornickel has not been offering spot nickel in the United States since February, which intensifies the supply shortage and rapidly rising premiums in the country since miners at Vale Canada went on strike on June 1, multiple sources told Fastmarkets.Nornickel has declined to comment but said that an update was imminent for its Taimyrsky mine - whose recent disruption, sources said, led to the halt...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
Turkish steel mills stayed away from making any deep-sea scrap deals on Monday July 19, due to the start of the week-long Eid al-Adha public holiday, sources told Fastmarkets.Regular trading is not expected to resume until Monday July 26, they added.One market participant said the Turkish market for finished steel products and the scrap market...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
China's domestic rebar prices edged higher on Monday July 19, after power shortages increased participants' expectations of production reductions, sources said.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 5,240-5,250 yuan ($809-810) per tonne, up by 10-40 yuan per tonnePower supply shortages in some regions have forced steelmakers to scale back operations, which increased participants' expectations of a pro...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Stainless steel prices and margins for stainless steel producers have risen notably over the past few months in both Europe and the United States, but there are now signs that the rally is petering out.A clear reason for the halt to rising prices comes from the near 20% drop in nickel prices seen in late February/early March,...Read More