Base metal prices on the London Metal Exchange mostly increased on Tuesday July 6, with a tepid dollar driving the complex up. The United States dollar index was at 92.29 on Tuesday, up 0.8 from an earlier reading on the same day, but lower than its peak of 92.76 during its late-May to early-July rally. The three-month LME lead price led the increase on Tuesday, up 1.2% compared to Monday's c...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Tuesday July 6 that are worth another look.Indian suppliers exhausted their third-quarter quota for shipments of hot-rolled coil into Europe on the first day of the new three-month period, according to data released by the European...Read More
The Turkish steel producers continued to hold back from the deep-sea scrap import markets on the second working day of the week due to limited demand for finished long steel products, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday July 6.The mills in the country booked four deep-sea cargoes last week, three of which were booked by a single steel mill.The most recent deal was concluded at $495 per...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
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
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
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
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
Brazilian slab prices remained stable for the fourth consecutive assessment period in the week ended Friday July 2, with buyers and sellers continuing to dispute the price level.Fastmarkets' weekly assessment for steel slab, export, fob main port Brazil, was $980-1,000 per tonne fob on July 2, unchanged since June 4.A little activity was seen during the week, with the market beginning to transitio...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
ArcelorMittal will invest 750 million Reais ($148 million) in projects to strengthen environmental controls at its Tubar??o slab and hot-rolled coil facility in Brazil's southeastern state of Esp?-rito Santo.The investment will be part of a deal signed in 2018 with state and federal authorities, in which the company committed to a series of operational actions and investments intended to...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
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
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
Turkish deep-sea scrap import markets were quiet on Monday July 5 with mills reluctant to buy scrap amid limited finished steel demand, while suppliers kept offers firm, market sources told Fastmarkets.Steel producers in Turkey booked four deep-sea cargoes last week, three of which were booked by a single steel mill.The most recent deep-sea transaction put the heavy melting scrap 1&2 (80:20) price...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
Hot-rolled coil prices across China's domestic market cruised higher on Monday July 5, with the futures market riding an upward wave across the ferrous complex. DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,500-5,540 yuan ($851-858) per tonne, up by 60-70 yuan from 5,430-5,480 yuan per tonne. The most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange gained more than 1% to end the day at 5,494 yuan per t...Read More
The latest data for the global manganese ore market for the week ended July 2, 2021.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 prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, apart from those for lead, were up during morning trading on Tuesday July 6. Those on the London Metal Exchange were mixed, but that was after a generally positive day on Monday.Brent crude oil climbs after Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries fail to agree a production increase.Base metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed t...Read More