China exported 4.79 million tonnes of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in the whole of 2017, up 4.5% on a yearly basis, according to preliminary Chinese customs data released on Friday January 12.The average value of Chinese aluminium exports in 2017 was $2,733 per tonne, an increase of 1.4% from $2,695 per tonne in 2016, according to the data. "The whole export condition is better in 20...Read More
Export prices of steel billet from Latin America increased this week, amid higher global prices, Metal Bulletin has learned.Deals closed in late December were reported at as high as $510 per tonne fob for February shipment for Brazilian material, sources told Metal Bulletin. Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment...Read More
Domestic prices for rebar in Poland have increased over the past week due to higher scrap costs, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday January 12.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic 12mm B500B-grade rebar in Poland was 2,240-2,300 zloty ($643-661) per tonne ex-works on January 12, compared with 2,220-2,270 per tonne ex-works a...Read More
Export prices for Latin America-origin cold-rolled coil (CRC) went up this week, while prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) were flat amid renewed offers from Brazil.Metal Bulletin's weekly assessment of Latin America's CRC export prices increased to $670-685 per tonne fob on Friday January 12, compared with $635-640 per tonne fob a week earlier.Meanwhile, Latin America's HRC export prices...Read More
Export prices for Brazil-origin steel slab increased this week on higher raw materials costs and limited supply from other regions, Metal Bulletin has heard.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment of Brazil export slab went up to $510-520 per tonne fob on Friday January 12, from $500-510 per tonne fob a week earlier.Offers were reported at a minimum $520 per tonne fob, several market participants...Read More
The latest bids, offers and deals in the global markets for hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dipped galvanized coil, pre-painted galvanized iron, steel plate, steel sheet and other flat steel products. Latest transactions: HRC, CRC, HDG, PPGIHot-rolled coilTurkey, domestic, hot-rolled coil, offered at $620-630 per tonne ex-works, March production. Turkey, domestic, hot-rolled coil, traded at...Read More
Some coated flat steel prices increased in Turkey this week, although demand was not very strong in either the local or export markets, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday January 12. Some coated flat steel prices increased in Turkey this week, although demand was not very strong in either the local or export markets, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday January 12. Domestic pric...Read More
The following Metal Bulletin noble alloys, bulk alloys and ores prices changed on Friday January 12:Noble alloys Molybdenum Europe drummed molybdic oxide, $/lb: $11.05-11.30 per lb from $11.00-11.30 Molybdenum US canned molybdic oxide, $/Ib $11.00-11.30 per Ib from $10.90-11.15 Ferro-molybdenum basis 65% min, in-warehouse Rotterdam, $/kg Mo: $26.50-27.20 per kg from $26.50-27.10 Ferro-molybdenum U...Read More
Prices for shredded scrap imported in containers into India continued to rise this week despite a weakening in the country's domestic finished and semi-finished steel markets, sources said on Friday January 12.Metal Bulletin's index for Indian imported shredded scrap rose to $380.45 per tonne cfr Nhava Sheva on Friday January 12, up by $6.36 per tonne week-on-week."The scrap market is firm in all...Read More
The UK inter-merchant price range for austenitic alloy steel scrap narrowed upward by ?10 per tonne this week with nickel prices remaining strong, sources said on Friday January 12.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for inter-merchant 18/8 scrap solids in the UK was ?960-980 ($1,297-1,324) per tonne delivered on Friday, compared with ?950-980 per tonne on January 5."It's not easy to buy b...Read More
The market in the United Kingdom for grade 5C ferrous scrap has increased in the past week, with prices rising on tough competition between a couple of major dealers for seemingly tight supplies, according to industry sources.And the current trend toward higher prices that started on November 10 last year may persist in the near future amid tough competition for material.Northern European export p...Read More
German steelmakers have settled their monthly scrap contracts for January with an average price increase of ?,?10 ($12) per tonne, sources told Metal Bulletin on Friday January 12.But some mills, that had paid more for material in December, have settled contracts for scrap with a rise of ?,?5 per tonne this month, according to market participants.Metal Bulletin's monthly price assessment for domes...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap market went quiet again on Friday January 12 amid tight supply, although the country's steel producers were still expected to book more cargoes for February.The supply especially in the United States was said to be tight due to heavy winter conditions, which was limiting the flow of...Read More
Comex copper prices were lower on the morning of Friday January 12, with volumes small ahead of the US holiday weekend.Copper for March settlement on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange dipped by 0.45 cents or 0.1% to trade recently at $3.2285 per lb. The trading range so far has been between $3.2180 and $3.2490 per oz."Copper is comfortably consolidating," Metal Bulletin analys...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher during morning trading on Friday January 12, with zinc continuing to edge higher. The three-month zinc price hit a high of $3,409 per tonne already this morning - the highest since August 2007. "Momentum-based indicators show a strong uptrend in motion. A fresh 2018 high is likely to occur in the coming days," Boris Mikanikrezai, M...Read More
Both the physical and paper markets for iron ore softened on Friday January 12 amid a further weakening of Chinese steel prices and with the disruptions attributed to a cyclone in Australia being less intense than expected.Key driversChina's spot rebar and hot-rolled coil prices fell 20-70 yuan ($3.10-10.80) per tonne during the day. The country's ferrous futures also tanked across the board.Weste...Read More
Deliverable nickel stocks at the Shanghai Futures Exchange-approved warehouses remained in an upward trajectory over the past week due to tax policy changes implemented at the start of the year.SHFE nickel inventories increased by 8,475 tonnes or 17.3% over the past week to 57,395 tonnes as of Friday January 12. Stocks have now increased by 29.8% in the first two weeks of January, compared with 44...Read More
China's domestic prices for hot-rolled coil fell at a faster pace on Friday January 12 amid a weakening of the futures market.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,150-4,200 yuan ($638-645) per tonne, down 60-70 yuan per tonne Northern China (Tianjin): 3,990-4,010 yuan per tonne, down 40 yuan per tonneFutures prices fell rapidly during Thursday night's trading session and weakened further on Friday,...Read More
The following Metal Bulletin minor metals prices changed on Friday January 12:Minor metals Antimony MB free market regulus, $/tonne: $8,050-8,350 per tonne from $8,000-8,350 Antimony MMTA standard grade II, $/tonne: $8,050-8,350 per tonne from $8,000-8,300 Chromium MB free market alumino-thermic, $/tonne: $8,000-8,300 per tonne from $7,700-8,000 Cobalt...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and the reasons for any price moves.Read More