Base Metal Stock Articles

CIS billet prices soften on stronger competition, weaker markets

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The export price for CIS-origin steel billet softened toward the end of the current week amid increased competition in the nearby markets in Turkey and Egypt, Fastmarkets heard on Thursday November 18.Weakness in finished steel prices added to the negative sentiment.The removal of a 10% safeguard duty on billet imports into Egypt early this week [LINK] at first added some optimism to the market, b...Read More

China's APT export price flat, domestic tungsten market weakens

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Chinese exporters of ammonium paratungstate (APT) kept their spot offers unchanged in the week to Wednesday November 17 amid slow conditions after foreign buyers took to the sidelines upon noticing weakness in China's domestic market.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for tungsten APT 88.5% WO3 min, fob main ports China was $313-319 per metric tonne unit (mtu) on Wednesday, unchanged from a week...Read More

Western Canada copper mine logistics disrupted by major floods

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The logistics of a cluster of copper mines in western Canada have been disrupted by extreme weather conditions in the province of British Columbia (BC) this week, Fastmarkets has learnt."All transportation routes, rails and highways, to the interior of the province are closed due to washouts and [land]slides," one Canadian miner source said on Thursday November 18.The province declared a state of...Read More

South Korean steel scrap deals pull down Japanese prices again

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Japanese steel scrap export prices fell again in the week to Thursday November 18, after lower-priced deals to South Korea emerged, sources told Fastmarkets.A major South Korean mill purchased about 30,000 tonnes of Japanese steel scrap at bid prices that it had lodged earlier this week, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday.On Wednesday, the mill bid at ?49,500 ($432) per tonne fob for H2 scrap,...Read More

Lithium Americas beats CATL to acquire Millennial Lithium for $400mln

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Canada-headquartered Lithium Americas has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Argentina-based producer Millennial Lithium to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the latter for approximately $400 million, the company said on Wednesday November 17. On November 1, Millennial Lithium announced that it had received a rival takeover bid from Lithium Americas. As such, Millennial Li...Read More

Bangladesh import steel scrap prices dip amid weaker sentiment across Asia

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Bangladeshi import steel scrap prices have fallen over the past week despite a continued rise in offer prices for rebar and domestic shipbreaking scrap in the country, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 18.?EUR?Bangladeshi import prices ease downward?EUR?Taiwanese buyers secure containerized scrap at $445-452 per tonne cfr?EUR?Lack of demand for scrap in China due to hot metal being mor...Read More

Five key stories from November 18

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 18 that are worth another look.Swedish steelmaker SSAB has announced a further two partnerships involving its fossil-fuel-free steel, to commence in 2026, the company said in separate announcements this week.Production of key battery raw materials cobalt...Read More

Chinese cobalt metal prices soften amid falling futures, weak buying pressures salts market

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Key data from the Wednesday November 17 pricing session in China.Key drivers  China's spot cobalt metal price fell amid a decline in local futures prices, while downstream demand was curbed by still high spot levels. Cobalt tetroxide prices in China were flat amid limited trading activity. Though most sellers would like...Read More

US rebar prices up slightly at 13-year high

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Domestic steel reinforcing bar prices in the United States increased slightly to a 13-year high, with many market participants expecting it to go up again before long.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), fob mill US was $50.50 per hundredweight ($1,010 per short ton) on Wednesday November 18, up by 0.50% from the week before and at its highest point since the assessment...Read More

Import billet price range in Egypt widens after safeguard duty removal

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The removal of a safeguard duty on imports of steel billet into Egypt earlier this week has resulted in a revival of trading activity in the local market, with various sellers rushing to grasp the opportunity because of unfavorable situations in other areas.The Egyptian Ministry of Industry & Trade suspended the country's 10% safeguard duty on imported billet with effect from Monday November 15.Fo...Read More

Five key stories from November 18

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 18 that are worth another look.Swedish steelmaker SSAB has announced a further two partnerships involving its fossil-fuel-free steel, to commence in 2026, the company said in separate announcements this week.Production of key battery raw materials cobalt...Read More

EV battery recycling infrastructure not keeping pace with demand, report says

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The infrastructure to recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries is currently not optimized either to handle end-of-life battery capacity or to meet critical materials demands placed on the market with the ramping-up of electrification, according to US-based consultancy Lux Research.In a report issued on Thursday November 18, the consultancy said that, despite a flurry of activity in the past few yea...Read More

Five key stories from November 18

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 18 that are worth another look.Swedish steelmaker SSAB has announced a further two partnerships involving its fossil-fuel-free steel, to commence in 2026, the company said in separate announcements this week.Production of key battery raw materials cobalt...Read More

Five key stories from November 18

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 18 that are worth another look.Swedish steelmaker SSAB has announced a further two partnerships involving its fossil-fuel-free steel, to commence in 2026, the company said in separate announcements this week.Production of key battery raw materials cobalt...Read More

Import billet price range in Egypt widens after safeguard duty removal

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The removal of a safeguard duty on imports of steel billet into Egypt earlier this week has resulted in a revival of trading activity in the local market, with various sellers rushing to grasp the opportunity because of unfavorable situations in other areas.The Egyptian Ministry of Industry & Trade suspended the country's 10% safeguard duty on imported billet with effect from Monday November 15.Fo...Read More

EU October car sales fall 30% on semiconductor shortage

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Passenger car sales in the EU declined month-on-month in October 2021 due to the continuing global shortage of semiconductors for use in onboard electronics, making it the fourth consecutive month to show a double-digit percentage decrease.In October, EU passenger car sales decreased by 30.26% year-on-year to 665,001 units, the lowest October volume since 1995, the European Automotive Manufacturer...Read More

Domestic CRC prices down in Southern Europe on slow trading, competitive imports

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Domestic prices for cold-rolled coil in Southern Europe moved down in the week to Wednesday November 17 due to limited trading activity and competitive import offers, sources told Fastmarkets.In the meantime, domestic prices in the north of Europe have been fairly stable despite a similar lack of demand.Both Southern and Northern European spot buyers have been avoiding booking significant volumes...Read More

Western Canada copper mine logistics disrupted by major floods

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

The logistics of a cluster of copper mines in western Canada have been disrupted by extreme weather conditions in the province of British Columbia (BC) this week, Fastmarkets has learnt."All transportation routes, rails and highways, to the interior of the province are closed due to washouts and [land]slides," one Canadian miner source said on Thursday November 18.The province declared a state of...Read More

Chinese nickel sulfate producers face squeeze in annual contract talks

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Chinese nickel sulfate producers face difficult annual contract negotiations for 2022, with upstream miners taking an aggressive stance while downstream battery precursor material producers are hinting at lower demand amid plans to implement integrated operations.The Chinese nickel sulfate price has undergone considerable volatility in 2021, climbing in August to its highest since Fastmarkets bega...Read More

Chile presidential election preview: Main candidates' mining policy and implications for key copper country

November 19, 2021 / Staff reporter

Fastmarkets has summarized mining-related policy proposals for the key candidates ahead of Chile's presidential election as presented on their political programs, with the population of the world's biggest copper producing country set to cast their vote on Sunday November 21.What is at stake? Chile produced a third of the world's copper in 2020, in the form of concentrates, anodes and cathode...Read More

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