Base metals production in Peru increased significantly year-on-year during May due to the strong effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but figures were also up on a monthly basis on better performances by the largest mines, the country's ministry of energy and mines, Minem, said on Friday July 2.Copper output totaled 195,999 tonnes in May, up by 52.63% from 128,412 tonnes in the corresponding...Read More
European buyers were insisting on lower domestic prices for hot-rolled coil although the availability of the material remained short, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 5.Buyers were reluctant to continue paying high prices for coil, and have been limiting their purchases in terms of both number and volumes, market sources said.Long lead times from domestic producers, sufficient stocks among...Read More
China bucked the trend among major iron ore importers by continuing to increase its purchases of the steelmaking raw material from abroad in 2020.The country imported 1.17 billion tonnes of the iron ore last year, an increase of 9.4% compared with 2019.European Union countries collectively accounted for the largest decrease among major iron ore importers, with purchases tumbling 20.8% year on year...Read More
Nearby lead spreads are again in backwardation, with the metal's futures continuing to trade at a discount to cash prices on the London Metal Exchange on July 5.The LME's cash-three month spread is currently backwardated at $19 per tonne although cash-July and cash-August remain in small contangos.The LME three-month lead price has gained $12 from Friday's 5pm close to $2,312 per tonne."It's causi...Read More
Domestic prices for steel rebar in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow were largely stable in the week to Monday July 5, aided by solid demand from construction.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia was 72,500-75,000 ($990-1,024) roubles per tonne on Monday, including 20% value-added tax, unchanged from last week.High const...Read More
Stainless steel prices continue to register new highs around the end of the first half of 2021 and steelmakers continue to enjoy outsized margins.They have responded in recent months by increasing their output, which has now pushed above pre-pandemic levels and will eventually restore balance to the market.For now, though, supply gaps are still being filled and buyers find themselves competing aga...Read More
Base metals price movements on the London Metal Exchange were mixed during trading on Monday July 5, with copper and tin making the best showings among the complex.Copper's three-month price rallied upward by more than $130 per tonne during Monday's trading, to $9,511 per tonne at the 5pm close, from $9,376.50 per tonne on Friday, despite only 12,404 lots being traded during the day.While the stro...Read More
CIS export billet prices fell on Monday July 5, with customers pushing for lower rates because Russian mills are now looking to sell volumes ahead the introduction of an export duty in August.On Friday June 25 the Russian government approved a temporary export duties on 340 steel and non-ferrous metals sold outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The duties will apply from August 1 through to...Read More
Tantalum concentrate continues to gain price support amid pressing demand for consumer electronics goods and the global extent of shipping delays, which have incentivized primary tantalum producers in Central Africa to raise their output over the past month, Fastmarkets heard on Monday July 5.Fastmarkets assessed the price of tantalite, basis 25% min Ta2O5, cif China, at $87-90 per lb on June 2, i...Read More
Tina Litzinger has been appointed as Vale's head of nickel sales west.Litzinger will be responsible for the company's sales of nickel and cobalt...Read More
Market sources in Asia were still weighing the news of Russia's plan to impose an export tax on ferrous and non-ferrous products, but there were growing expectations on Monday July 5 that the fourth-quarter premium for aluminium imports on a cif main Japanese ports (MJP) basis would rise even higher than the current level.Russian aluminium will carry an export duty of 15% plus $254 per tonne from...Read More
Kalidas Madhavpeddi has been appointed as the new chairman at Glencore, the commodities company announced on Monday July 5.Madhavpeddi will take over from retiring chairman Tony Hayward on July 30. Currently non-executive director of Novagold Resources Inc, Trilogy Metals Inc and Dundee Precious Metals Inc, Madhavpeddi has more than 40 years of experience in the international mining...Read More
The bullish momentum in China's stainless steel market in the first half of 2021 will likely extend into the third quarter, which would underpin prices for upstream products such as nickel pig iron (NPI) and ferro-chrome, market participants say.But several mills' plan to put new capacity into operation could weigh on prices in the fourth quarter, which would affect the upstream market for these r...Read More
Limited spot trade for rebar imports into Singapore kept prices unchanged during the week to Monday July 5, sources told Fastmarkets.Two major Indian steel mills raised their offer prices to $750-760 per tonne cfr Singapore on a theoretical weight basis, up by $5-10 per tonne week on week. But this did not mean that spot prices had increased, according to sources."Demand for imported material is e...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices increased on Monday July 5 amid higher trading activity and stronger futures prices.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,870-4,900 yuan ($754-759) per tonne, up by 40 yuan per tonneMarket participants expect steel production to drop in the second half of this year to meet a target set late last year by the Chinese Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT).Th...Read More
Gerald Group's subsidiary SL Mining resumed loading iron ore for export in the Port of Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, on Sunday July 4 2021, the London-based metals trader said this week.The company's first exports since June 2019, the "Marampa Blue" brand iron ore concentrate being shipped is more than 65% iron content and the unspecified volumes being transported will be taken from SL Mini...Read More
Iron ore prices were up on Monday July 5 with market sentiment improving because of the easing of restrictions in China's steelmaking hub of Tangshan, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.82 per tonne, up by $3.84 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $223.14 per tonne, up by $3.57 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $184...Read More
China's nickel sulfate price rose in the week ended Friday July 2, supported by a continuous shortage of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) due to strong demand from the electric vehicle (EV) market, but sentiment has turned cautious amid the elevated price levels.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%, cobalt 10ppm max, exw China, at 34,500-35,000 yuan ($5,329-5...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe and Italy declined in the week to Friday July 2, with buyers reluctant to continue paying high prices.Fastmarkets calculated its daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe, at ?,?1,149.50 ($1,363.72) per tonne on July 2, down by ?,?41.64 per tonne week on week and down by ?,?0.50 per tonne month on month.The index was bas...Read More
Key data from the Friday July 2 pricing session in China.Key driversChina's spot domestic cobalt metal price maintained its upward momentum on Friday July 2, driven by continuing bullish sentiment and rising local future prices. Sellers succeeded in concluding small-volume deals at higher levels because some buyers with immediate needs started to restock to avoid further price increases.The rising...Read More