The United States' pig iron import market fell in the latest bookings during the week to Friday June 25, although a rebound may come on the threat of reduced supply from Russia if a proposed export tax is implemented.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $645-655 per tonne on Friday, down from $650-665 per tonne a week earlier.One booking of Russia-origin...Read More
Indian domestic prices for secondary steel billet fell by 1,000 rupees ($13) per tonne in the week ended Friday June 25, in line with similar price dips for finished products such as rebar, Fastmarkets has heard.The price of steel billet, domestic, ex-works India, was assessed by Fastmarkets at 41,300-41,500 rupees ($557-559) per tonne on Friday, compared with last week's assessment at 42,300-42,5...Read More
Russia, the largest global supplier of pig iron, is likely to impose a temporary tax on exports of non-ferrous metals, including pig iron, sold outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).Russia's economy ministry has proposed that the government impose temporary export duties between August 1 and December 31, 2021. The final decision must be before June 30, because Russian law requires a month bet...Read More
European buyers of imported steel products are shocked by the extension of existing safeguard measures for another three years at a time when most of the industry's segments are struggling from material shortage and, consequently, high prices. European Union member states voted in the week ended June 18 in favor of a proposed extension of these measures for three years beyond their scheduled...Read More
Chinese steelmakers are increasingly adjusting their sinter feed ratios to consist of more low-grade iron ore to go with the high-grade products they are already consuming - instead of mid-grade fines - amid rising costs and weakening margins, market sources said.The switch mirrors that in the third quarter of 2020, when low inventory levels for mid-grade fines at Chinese ports led to price increa...Read More
The United States' pig iron import market fell in the latest bookings during the week to Friday June 25, although a rebound may come on the threat of reduced supply from Russia if a proposed export tax is implemented.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $645-655 per tonne on Friday, down from $650-665 per tonne a week earlier.One booking of Russia-origin...Read More
An overview of the new energy materials markets and their price moves from the past week.Susan Zou, Yingchi Yang, and...Read More
Persistent tight supply continues to underpin lithium prices in Asia, as well as in Europe and the United States over the week ended Thursday June 24.Lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices in the seaborne Asian market nudged higher due to a combination of aggressive lack of availability. Lithium producers in China held offers firm, while consumers of lithium hydroxide are wary of securing units. L...Read More
Pilbara Minerals' board has approved a staged restart at the Ngungaju lithium project, set for the December quarter of 2021, the company announced on Friday June 25.Pilbara completed the acquisition of the Altura Lithium in January, thereby becoming the 100% owner of Altura's Pilgangoora lithium project, which was promptly renamed Ngungaju. The project has been on care and maintenance since late O...Read More
The Russian government has approved temporary export duties on 340 steel and non-ferrous metals sold outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which are set to take effect from August 1 through December 31, according to an official government decree. The duties, which are intended to control inflation of metal prices domestically, are expected to raise approximately 160 million rubles ($2.2...Read More
Iron ore prices increased across the board on Friday June 25, boosted by an increase in downstream steel prices. Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $216.45 per tonne, up $2.99 per tonne 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $218.75 per tonne, up $1.67 per tonne 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $187.16 per tonne, up $3.30 per tonne 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr...Read More
Steel mills in India reduced the price of hot rolled coil exports to Southeast Asia by as much as $50 per tonne in the week to Friday June 25, with official offers down to $940-950 per tonne fob Indian ports.According to market participants, however, buyers in Southeast Asia are considering HRC prices closer to $880-890 per tonne fob Indian ports for mid-July- August shipment.Fastmarkets' price as...Read More
European Metal Recycling (EMR) will commit to a net zero carbon emissions target across all three emission scopes, the company said on June 24.EMR aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 across scopes 1, 2 and 3 of relevant greenhouse gas emissions, and to provide its customers with traceability of its materials across the supply chain.EMR's goal is to reach net zero for indirect emissions created by th...Read More
All base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange, except for copper, finished slightly higher on Thursday June 24, with the recovery continuing after last week's decline while the US Dollar Index consolidated on low ground to lend support to the complex.Nickel led the way on the LME, rising by 1.9% at the close of trading on Thursday to $18,407 per tonne, up from its Wednesday closing price of...Read More
Ferro-molybdenum prices dropped on Wednesday after a number of market participants took profits following a six-week rally in which prices jumped as much as 78% and hit a series of 10-year highs, sources said.Fastmarkets assessed the price for ferro-molybdenum 65% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam at $47-48.50 per kg on Wednesday June 23, down by 3.6% from $49-50 per kg on June 16.This represented a steepe...Read More
Prices in the European titanium alloy and scrap market could fall in the near term amid signs of weaker scrap costs and little renewed consumer demand for third quarter deliveries, according to trade sources.While most industry ferro-titanium suppliers reported fairly stable prices this week, they also said trading activity has been quiet, much like the rest of the current quarter. Steelmakers tol...Read More
China's domestic stainless steel prices rose to their highest in four-and-a-half years over the past week after producers made upward adjustments to their list prices.DomesticStainless steel cold-rolled coil 2mm grade 304 domestic (Wuxi): 16,900-17,500 ($2,609-2,701) per tonne, up by 300 yuan per tonne Prices were last at these levels in December 2016, according to Fastmarkets' data.High productio...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday June 24 that are worth another look.The Brazilian capital goods association, Abimaq, will meet with China-based Baosteel and local trading house Comexport to pave the way for its members to import more steel amid rising prices and tight supply in the domestic market, the association said...Read More
Much greater investment is needed to expand supply chains to secure critical minerals and expand manufacturing in key materials needed for the energy transition, according to the Acting Undersecretary for Science and Energy at the United States Department of Energy.These investments must ensure sustainable production, refining, and recycling capacity domestically, while ensuring strong environment...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday June 24 that are worth another look.The Brazilian capital goods association, Abimaq, will meet with China-based Baosteel and local trading house Comexport to pave the way for its members to import more steel amid rising prices and tight supply in the domestic market, the association said...Read More