Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday June 7 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is seeking approval from European authorities for its acquisition of steelmaking assets in France that belong to Liberty Steel, the European Commission (EC) said on June 7.Fresh deals for the supply of aluminium ingot...Read More
China imported 89.79 million tonnes of iron ore in May, up by 3.17% from 87.03 million tonnes a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data released on Monday June 7. Last month's volumes were down by 8.91% from the 98.57 million tonnes of iron ore that China imported in April. Iron ore prices were highly volatile in May. Fastmarkets' price index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao...Read More
Iron ore prices fell on Monday June 7, following the downtrend in steel prices amid weak steel demand during the rainy season in China.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $202.42 per tonne, down $4.93 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $204.18 per tonne, down $5.02 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $176.99 per tonne, down $4.41 per tonne65% Fe B...Read More
Key data from the Friday June 4 pricing session in London and China.Key drivers Cobalt hydroxide payables widened down, with some suppliers reporting that buyers would not pay at the top of the range. Buyers have been resisting higher offers for some weeks, without...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mainly lower this morning, Monday June 7, after the rally sparked by Friday's worse-than-expected US employment report ran out of steam.China's imports climbed 51% and exports were up 28% year on year in May.The US Dollar Index weakened after Friday's disappointing employment report in the United States.Base metalsLME three-month base metals pri...Read More
Nickel and zinc's three-month prices lost more than 1% during the morning session on the London Metal Exchange on Monday June 7, amid a general decline of the base metals complex following the release of worse-than-expected United States employment data on Friday.Nickel's three-month price was at $17,765 per tonne on Monday at 9am, a 1.4% fall after edging slighter higher to close at $18,020 per t...Read More
China's nickel sulfate price widened upward amid a continuous shortage of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) in the week to Friday June 4 although the availability of alternative raw materials continues to restrain the price rise, sources told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets assessed the nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%, cobalt 10ppm max, exw China at 33,000-34,000 yuan ($5,154-5,311) per tonne on F...Read More
Physical commodities trading company Trafigura Pte Ltd and agricultural commodities firm Yara International ASA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and promotion of ammonia as a clean fuel in shipping, Trafigura said. The companies have also agreed to explore opportunities to work together on certain clean green and blue ammonia fuel infrastructure and...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Chinese steel scrap prices were supported by firm downstream steel prices earlier this year, but they fell sharply over the second half of May. The drop in scrap prices in the latter half of the month came after authorities signalled a wish to cool down commodity prices, including those for steel and steelmaking raw material...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 10 points in pre-opening trade. Biogen added $0.95 to $396.80 after Cowen upgraded the stock to Buy following news of FDA approval of Biogen's Alzheimer's treatment. Oppenheimer raised its target on the stock from $305 to $450.Marvell Technology advanced $2.53 to $50.80 after reporting higher than consensus first quart...Read More
With the exception of tin that was perched just below recent multi-year highs and aluminium that was little changed, base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were weaker this morning, Tuesday June 8.* Markets quiet but mixed, waiting for fresh direction* US Dollar Index edging higher and US 10-year treasuries driftingBase metalsLME three-month base metals prices were mixed; tin was up by 1%...Read More
Fresh deals for the supply of aluminium ingot to main Japanese ports (MJP) in the third quarter were concluded by Friday June 4 at a premium of $185 per tonne cif MJP on top of the London Metal Exchange cash price, market sources told Fastmarkets.Several market participants reported that the deals were done between producers and traders as well as consumers. These were agreed for small tonnages of...Read More
China's domestic rebar prices dropped on Monday June 7 on falling futures, albeit at a much smaller amount amid the emergence of more steelmaking restrictions in the country's production hub of Tangshan in the northern region.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 5,000-5,030 yuan ($782-786) per tonne, down by 30 yuan per tonneRerolling mills in Tangshan's Fengrun district have been ordered to cut prod...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices slightly increased in the cfr market amid positive market sentiment and inched down in the fob market due to weak procurement and speculative buying on Monday June 4, sources said.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $164.86 per tonne, down by $0.91 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $282.87 per tonne, up by $0.83 per tonneHard coking coa...Read More
Turkish steel mills have extended their silence in the deep-sea scrap import markets amid weak finished steel sales, market participants told Fastmarkets on Monday June 7. The most recent deep-sea trade was done on May 28, when a steel mill in the Marmara region booked a US cargo, comprising HMS 1&2 (80:20) at $503 per tonne and shredded scrap at $513 per tonne cfr. ...Read More
Export pig iron prices from Brazil remained strong during the week to Friday June 4 on further sales, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, export, fob port of Vitoria/Rio, Brazil was $620 per tonne on Friday, unchanged week on week.A new sale from the south of Brazil was heard...Read More
ArcelorMittal is seeking approval from European authorities for its acquisition of steelmaking assets in France that belong to Liberty Steel, the European Commission (EC) said on Monday June 7."ArcelorMittal confirms that it has submitted an offer to acquire the Hayange and Ascoval steel plants which are currently owned by GFG Alliance," ArcelorMittal said.A deadline for publication of the provisi...Read More
Prices for carbon steel plate in the United States strengthened for the first time in three weeks while distributors mostly failed in attempts to book spot deals before the next round of anticipated price increases from mills. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel cut-to-length plate carbon grade, fob mill US was at $69.50 per hundredweight ($1,390 per short ton) on Friday June 4, up...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States set a record for the second time this month, while the coil market continues to be supported by lean supply and sustained demand.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $82.69 per hundredweight ($1,653.80 per ton) on Monday June 7, up 0.40% from $82.36 per cwt on Friday and up 2.78% from $80.45 per cwt on May 28. The...Read More
After concluding five-year sunset reviews, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to extend anti-dumping (AD) duties on imports of cut-to-length carbon steel plate from China, Russia and Ukraine."Revoking the existing anti-dumping duty orders... would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time," the ITC wro...Read More