Export volumes of steel products from China will stay low in 2018, which will raise demand for scrap in other Asian countries, the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) said on Wednesday January 10."For the first quarter of 2018, we can expect steel exports from China to remain reduced, which will continue to drive local steel mill demand elsewhere," Irepas said."Many coun...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Europe are expected to move upward on higher costs for slab and other raw materials, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday January 10.In the meantime, however, prices have been largely unchanged this week with the market still slow after Christmas holidays.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic grade-S235JR heavy steel plate in Southern Eu...Read More
Export volumes of steel products from China will stay low in 2018, which will raise demand for scrap in other Asian countries, the International Rebar Producers & Exporters Association (Irepas) said on Wednesday January 10."For the first quarter of 2018, we can expect steel exports from China to remain reduced, which will continue to drive local steel mill demand elsewhere," Irepas said."Many coun...Read More
Domestic prices for rebar in Southern Europe have narrowed upward over the past week, on higher scrap costs and the return of market participants from seasonal holidays, sources told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday January 10.Metal Bulletin's weekly domestic price assessment for Southern European rebar rose to ?,?520-530 ($621-633) per tonne delivered on Wednesday, from ?,?505-530 per tonne on January...Read More
European mills are expected to increase their domestic offer prices for cold-rolled coil (CRC), with supported from the lack of competitive import offers, sources told Metal Bulletin this week.Metal Bulletin's weekly price assessment for domestic CRC in Northern Europe was ?,?610-640 ($728-764) per tonne ex-works on Wednesday December 10, unchanged over the week.The assessment reflected "workable"...Read More
The latest metal markets news and price moves to start the North American day on Wednesday January 10.Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher this morning, with nickel prices continuing to outperform the rest of the complex.The main supporting factors are falling stocks, increased fees for material entering China since the beginning of the year and higher long-term contr...Read More
Good morning from Metal Bulletin's office in Singapore, as we bring you the latest news and pricing stories on Wednesday January 10.Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were mostly lower during Asian morning trading on Wednesday following mixed consumer price index and producer price index readings from China earlier in the day. Nickel and tin prices bucked the general weakness, how...Read More
After a year focused on re-establishing stability, the London Metal Exchange has started 2018 with its attention on driving more liquidity to the bourse by launching the Introducing Broker membership category and broadening its contract portfolio, says senior metals market consultant Martin Hayes. Twelve months ago, it was fair to say that the LME was facing a period of uncertainty - it had lost i...Read More
Nickel continued to rally on the London Metal Exchange during afternoon trading on Wednesday January 10, closing in positive territory alongside the rest of the metals.The three-month nickel price closed up 1.8% on Tuesday's close, having hit an intraday high of $13,200 per tonne earlier, thanks to a tighter market and robust demand from the stainless steel sector."We have a constructive view over...Read More
The London Metal Exchange closed 2017 in positive fashion as average daily volume (ADV) climbed 19.3% after two previous months of decline. Lead was the strongest performer, with ADV climbing over 50% from December 2016 with 55,717 lots. Last month, lead was the only base metal to record a significant year-on-year increase. Copper's ADV was up 24.3% from the previous year to 150,723 lots, after it...Read More
After a year focused on re-establishing stability, the London Metal Exchange has started 2018 with its attention on driving more liquidity to the bourse by launching the Introducing Broker membership category and broadening its contract portfolio, says senior metals market consultant Martin Hayes. Twelve months ago, it was fair to say that the LME was facing a period of uncertainty - it had lost i...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were mixed today with SHFE nickel up over 1% and tin up 0.67%. While aluminium edged up slightly, SHFE lead and zinc were down 0.51% and 0.69% respectively. Ferrous metals weakened this afternoon even though rebar and hot-rolled coil were still up at closure. Coke and coking coal saw drops of 3% and 2% respectively, while iron ore edged down s...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were mixed today with SHFE nickel up over 1% and tin up 0.67%. While aluminium edged up slightly, SHFE lead and zinc were down 0.51% and 0.69% respectively. Ferrous metals weakened this afternoon even though rebar and hot-rolled coil were still up at closure. Coke and coking coal saw drops of 3% and 2% respectively, while iron ore edged down s...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals were mixed today with SHFE nickel up over 1% and tin up 0.67%. While aluminium edged up slightly, SHFE lead and zinc were down 0.51% and 0.69% respectively. Ferrous metals weakened this afternoon even though rebar and hot-rolled coil were still up at closure. Coke and coking coal saw drops of 3% and 2% respectively, while iron ore edged down s...Read More
China’s producer price index (PPI) in December rose 4.9% from the same month a year ago, higher than the expectation at 4.8%. The growth in December, however, was lower than the 5.8% seen in November.The country’s consumer price index (CPI), on the other hand, rose 1.8% in December, below the expectation at 1.9%. But this is higher than the growth in November at 1.7%. T...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 10 points in pre-opening trade. Signet Jewellers dropped $4.62 to $51.97 after lowering its fourth quarter sales guidance.Lennar fell $1.12 to $65.55 after reporting less than consensus fourth quarter earnings. Nutrien gained $0.12 to US$52.80 after Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage with a Buy rating.Deere improved $...Read More
China’s producer price index (PPI) in December rose 4.9% from the same month a year ago, higher than the expectation at 4.8%. The growth in December, however, was lower than the 5.8% seen in November.The country’s consumer price index (CPI), on the other hand, rose 1.8% in December, below the expectation at 1.9%. But this is higher than the growth in November at 1.7%. T...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM)? 1/4 ? SMM believes the LME zinc price may stay on its current upward-moving track with historical low inventory and demand from the reconstruction activities in the US. However, we also see irrational factors supporting the price rise and potential risks ahead.With stronger LME zinc price but a weaker SHFE contract, there is limited room for marginal supply to go lower wher...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM)? 1/4 ?Copper: There is still room for downward movement for copper prices and we see LME copper likely to trade towards the $7,000/mt level. We expect the LME contract to trade at $7,070-7,130/mt today and the SHFE contract at 54,400-54,900 yuan/mt. Spot premiums are to rise to 30-80 yuan/mt today.Zinc: LME zinc began to slip after touching $3,400/mt and we expect it to trad...Read More
SHANGHAI, Jan 10 (SMM)? 1/4 ?Copper: There is still room for downward movement for copper prices and we see LME copper likely to trade towards the $7,000/mt level. We expect the LME contract to trade at $7,070-7,130/mt today and the SHFE contract at 54,400-54,900 yuan/mt. Spot premiums are to rise to 30-80 yuan/mt today.Zinc: LME zinc began to slip after touching $3,400/mt and we expect it to trad...Read More