The steel mills in Bangladesh have picked up a raft of containerized scrap cargoes at higher prices over the past week, preferring boxes over bulk cargoes, market participants told Fastmarkets on Thursday June 17.Demand for bulk material was muted in the country following recent completed trades, rising bulk prices from the United States West Coast and continued congestion at the Bangladeshi port...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.Recent weeks have brought two key developments with regard to trade policy on stainless steel products that will be to the detriment of consumers.In China, the country's stainless steelmakers no longer enjoy a 13% export rebate as of May 1, reducing greatly their incentive to export and instead leading them to focus on supply...Read More
Export prices for Japanese steel scrap have continued to rise over the past week amid high demand from South Korea as well as local buyers in Japan, sources told Fastmarkets.The scrap export market for Japan resembled a tug-of-war last week, with a major South Korean buyer lowering its bid prices by ?1,000 ($9) per tonne while the outcome of the June 9 auction of the Kanto Tetsugen - a cooperativ...Read More
Turkish steel billet prices in local and export markets have increased this week on improving demand, while imported billet prices narrowed downward, market participants said on Thursday June 17.Turkish market participants were expecting prices to increase for billet because of high scrap prices.Scrap prices decreased during the week, but the price falls were not sharp.Fastmarkets' daily index for...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.United States sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum carrying into June. Actual US HRC prices averaged $1,712 per tonne in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,698 per tonne. Strong underlying supply-and-demand conditions both in the US and globally are supporting prices as well as long lead...Read More
Joseph Carrabba, formerly chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cleveland-Cliffs, has been named CEO of ElementUS Minerals, the company has said.Carrabba was at Cleveland-Cliffs, at one point known as Cliffs Natural Resources, from 2005 to 2013. Prior to this, he had spent more than 20 years in executive leadership at Rio Tinto, holding positions in its North American, Australian, Asi...Read More
Iron ore prices went up on Thursday June 17, supported by improved liquidity in the physical markets, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $220.82 per tonne, up $6.74 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $222.01 per tonne, up $5.46 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $188.48 per tonne, up $3.56 per tonne65% Fe Brazil-origin...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were lower this morning. S&P 500 futures were down 30 points in pre-opening trade.Volume on U.S. equity, futures and options exchanges is expected to surge. Today is "quadruple witching day" when June equity and index options and futures expire. Adobe added $10.54 to $561.90 after reporting higher than consensus second quarter revenues and earnings. Target on the stoc...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.In the iron ore market, supply issues including heavy rains at the start of the year, followed by staffing problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, have affected exports from Brazil. This has helped Australia gain a larger market share, but since June, Brazilian export volumes have returned to levels last seen before the...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in China's domestic market edged higher on Thursday June 17 while the ferrous complex rose across the board on supply concerns, sources told Fastmarkets.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,480-5,500 yuan ($853-856) per tonne, up by 20-40 yuan per tonne.Spot prices climbed up on Thursday, while the most-traded HRC contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange clawed back about 90...Read More
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its cobalt hydroxide index as part of its annual methodology review process and compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for price reporting agencies.This consultation, which begins on Wednesday June 16 and will end on July 13, seeks to ensure that our methodologies...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices continued to fall on Wednesday June 16 due to sellers looking to destock.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 4,980-5,010 yuan ($778-783) per tonne, down by 70 yuan per tonne.Fear of further drops in end-user demand and the decline in futures prices have strengthened sellers' desire to run down...Read More
An overview of the consumer electronics markets and their latest price moves.Dalila Ouerghi and Cristina Belda...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 16 that are worth another look.European non-integrated steel traders and wire rod processors strongly oppose the European Commission's proposal to extend import safeguard measures for three more years, claiming that the decision neglects the interests of...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Global welded pipe prices surged in May as strong demand and still-insufficient supply lifted flat steel prices.The biggest jumps were seen in China, which was hit by the unexpected announcement of the elimination of export rebates on welded pipes in April. Chinese seaborne prices reached $1,570 per tonne fob for longitudina...Read More
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on its pricing methodology for its Northern Europe and United States hot-rolled coil indices as part of its annual methodology review process in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco) principles for price reporting agencies.This consultation, which is open until July 16, 2021, seeks to ensure that our meth...Read More
The gap between lithium spot and contract prices has narrowed significantly in 2021 as a result of tight availability along the lithium supply chain and price evolution, market sources said.For example, Fastmarkets' monthly assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, contract price cif China, Japan & Korea was $12.50-13.50 per kg on May 26, an increase of $1...Read More
The Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lbtrade log including business, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets publishes trades logs for its key price assessments and indices to bring more transparencyinto the markets it covers and the pricing process it applies.Fastmarkets assessed Cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam, $/lb at 20.10-20.70 on...Read More
Chinese aluminium market sentiment dipped in the morning of Wednesday June 16 after the National Food & Strategic Reserves Administration announced moves to calm the overheated commodity market, yet optimism remains for aluminium's price performance in the second half of 2021. China announced on Wednesday it will release its national base metals reserves in the near term to stabilize commodity pri...Read More
There will be multiple routes taken to achieving net-zero emissions targets in the steel sector, not just one fix, the chief executive officer and managing director of India-based Tata Steel has said.According to TV Narendran, meeting decarbonization targets will be a challenge, but it is achievable."The transition isn't going to be easy or cheap - there are multiple solutions. I don't think there...Read More