The three-month prices of zinc and lead were the only ones to rise on Tuesday May 25, while other futures contracts on the London Metal Exchange ended the day lower, with consolidation continuing in the base-metals complex.The price of the galvanizing metal rose to $2,982.50 per tonne from Monday's 5pm price of $2,948.50 per tonne. One week earlier, zinc had reached its latest year-to-date high at...Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange were mainly positive on the morning of Tuesday May 25, with only SHFE lead showing significant weakness. Broader markets seem to have become more risk on again after US central bankers stuck to their dovish guidance.Asia-Pacific equities were firmer this morning, especially in China where government action has calmed inf...Read More
Base metals prices on the LME and SHFE were mixed - albeit with a slight upward bias - this morning, Wednesday May 26. But the rebounds seem half-hearted, with some erring on the side of caution judging by the lower treasury yields and stronger gold price.* While the United States Federal Reserve generally seems to be remaining dovish, the vice chair, Richard Clarida, spoke of a “soft landing...Read More
The United States is "deep in conversations" to determine how the federal government can support the growth of electric vehicles (EVs), the country's Secretary of Transportation said.The country's goal of reducing carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2030 is helping to drive this collaboration, according to Secretary Pete Buttigieg."We're deep in conversations about how to support the EV revolution...Read More
A summary of Australian lithium miner Orocobre's results for the first quarter of 2021, released on Monday May 24.In briefSales of lithium carbonate salts from the Olaroz facility in Argentina totaled 3,032 tonnes during the January-March quarter, with the average realized price rising by more than 50% compared with...Read More
Aluminium premiums remained high across the globe in the week ended Tuesday May 25 due to tight supply and high logistics costs.Rotterdam premiums well supportedUS Midwest premium remains at all-time highOpen arb pushes Shanghai premiums upwardMJP focused on third quarterLME contango supports Rotterdam premiumsAluminium premiums in Europe remained well supported this week with offer levels continu...Read More
The current bullish commodities market is mainly driven by a supply-demand mismatch during a pandemic instead of a super cycle, panelists said at the LME Asia Metal Seminar 2021 on Tuesday May 25.An energy transition is also driving demand and price momentum for some metals, they said."The [increased] metals price resulted from a disconnect between supply and demand, because demand for metals is r...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday May 24 that are worth another look.Demand for ferrous scrap imported to South Korea has shown a notable recovery in recent months amid healthy steel demand and rising steel output in the East Asian nation.Key Chinese commodities companies have been warned that they...Read More
Some base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange bounced back on Monday May 24 aided by elements of short-covering after the sell-off towards the end of last week that took copper and aluminium prices down by over 5%. The three-month nickel price had the biggest boost on Monday, of 1.9% to $17,118 per tonne, from Friday's $16,791 per tonne price. On Friday, the price had declined by 6% over th...Read More
The Chinese government held a meeting with the biggest iron ore, steel, copper and aluminium producers on Sunday May 23 to call for them to rein in commodity price hikes. Commodity leaders were told at the meeting to "proactively fulfill their social responsibilities" and make business decisions "for the benefit of the entire economy as a whole." "The key message is that we ought to obey our paren...Read More
Any imposition by Europe of import duties on stainless steel products from Indonesia and India would spur the domestic market, create additional demand for alloy and boost the ferro-chrome market - but the effects on prices may only be short-lived, according to Fastmarkets' senior analyst.It has been expected for some time that the EU will impose import duties on Indonesian and Indian stainless st...Read More
The seaborne low and high-grade manganese ore markets were quiet in the week to Friday May 21, while the portside market remained stable against strengthening silico-manganese prices, sources said.Fastmarkets' manganese ore index 37% Mn, cif Tianjin edged down by 1 cent (0.20%) to $4.50 per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) on Friday, from $4.51 per dmtu a week earlier.The semi-carbonate market was lar...Read More
The Chinese government held a meeting with the biggest iron ore, steel, copper and aluminium producers on Sunday May 23 to call for them to rein in commodity price hikes. Commodity leaders were told at the meeting to "proactively fulfill their social responsibilities" and make business decisions "for the benefit of the entire economy as a whole." "The key message is that we ought to obey our paren...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday May 24 that are worth another look.Demand for ferrous scrap imported to South Korea has shown a notable recovery in recent months amid healthy steel demand and rising steel output in the East Asian nation.Key Chinese commodities companies have been warned that they...Read More
The European manganese alloys markets rose even higher over the week ended Friday May 21, hitting price ranges last seen in late 2008, on a bout of short-covering from traders looking to restock ahead of an expected renewal of consumer demand early next month, trade sources have told Fastmarkets.Market prices for silico-manganese delivered on a spot basis went as high as ?,?1,450 ($1,766) per tonn...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday May 24 that are worth another look.Demand for ferrous scrap imported to South Korea has shown a notable recovery in recent months amid healthy steel demand and rising steel output in the East Asian nation.Key Chinese commodities companies have been warned that they...Read More
Demand for ferrous scrap imported to South Korea has shown a notable recovery in recent months amid healthy steel demand and rising steel output in the East Asian nation.South Korea imported 665,187 tonnes of steel scrap in January-April 2021, an increase of 20.3% year on year, according to Korean customs statistics.Steel production in the country was 17.58 million tonnes during the first quarter...Read More
The price for imported rebar in Singapore fell during the week to Monday May 24 due to turnaround in market sentiment and spot prices in China, market sources said. Buyers have been skittish amid falling steel prices in Asia, led by continual falls in China's physical and futures market. There were no bids heard. Prices in China have fallen continually from 6,000-6,030 yuan ($931-936) per tonne on...Read More
Base metals prices on the LME were mainly weaker on the morning of Monday May 24, while those on the SHFE were down across the board in response to attempts by the Chinese authorities to inhibit price increases. Power shortages in China, brought on by drought and emissions controls, are forcing some metal producers to reduce output. Proposed infrastructure plans in the United States face having to...Read More
A summary of China's battery raw materials exports for April 2021In brief China's cobalt metal exports fell year on year but surged on monthly basis due to improved buying appetite from overseas buyers. Exports of cobalt tetroxide rose year on year in April amid the continuous recovery of demand...Read More