Europe's biggest copper producer, Aurubis, has approved the planned construction of a secondary smelter in the US state of Georgia to tap into the availability of recycling materials and lower electricity costs in the country, the company said on Wednesday November 10.When fully operational, the plant could process as much as 90,000 tonnes per year of complex scrap, including circuit boards and co...Read More
Chinese exporters of ammonium paratungstate (APT) tried to hold their offers firm this past week, despite the overall export market being inactive and domestic prices in China falling, according to sources.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 November 10, widening downward by $2 per mtu from...Read More
Production output for mining companies across base metals is likely to remain low despite significant additional capacity because miners face challenges from climate disruptions, ageing mines and Covid-19-related delays, Australian consultancy and research firm Cape Noir said on Thursday November 11."A lot of assets are showing declines in production and rolling delays to maintenance. Assets have...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices rose on Thursday November 11, tracking the upward movements in Chinese futures and front-month swaps contracts, but most market participants remained cautious because of weak demand for physical iron ore, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $92.57 per tonne, up $3.67 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $94.03 per tonn...Read More
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) will offer cheaper funding to financial institutions which provide green loans, according to a statement released by the Chinese central bank on Monday November 8.The central bank will lend money to financial institutions to help them support firms which are working toward China's energy transition goals, the statement read.Financial institutions can borrow from P...Read More
European hot-rolled coil prices were stable to slightly lower on Thursday November 11, on subdued activity, but producers hope to achieve higher prices in the first quarter of 2022, sources told Fastmarkets.Trading activity was slow, with buyers refraining from making purchases and instead assessing the situation. Producers, meanwhile, were looking to achieve higher prices for the first quarter of...Read More
Steel billet prices to Egypt declined in the week to Thursday November 11, with demand from the private sector remaining weak, while government-funded projects continued, sources told Fastmarkets.Local rebar prices in Egypt have been unchanged since October 28 at E ?14,900-15,350 ($946-975) per tonne ex-works, including 14% VAT. ...Read More
The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 11.In addition to steel cord, the plant makes special bar quality (SBQ) products, springs and other material, mainly focused on the automotive industry. Strong dema...Read More
Nickel, a key raw material in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs), has gradually grown its market share amid a global shift away from fossil fuels.But with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries making a comeback in the EV market in China, a shadow is being cast on the growth potential for nickel consumption in 2022.The stainless steel market, which accounts for approximately 90%...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 11 that are worth another look.The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on November 11....Read More
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were largely up at the 5pm close of trading on Thursday November 11, after a strong morning performance and reassuring news that emerged from the Chinese property sector."Chinese stock markets gained, on growing confidence that the authorities would ease the crackdown on the property sector and support developers," Anna Stablum, LME desk analyst at M...Read More
European hot-rolled coil prices were stable to slightly lower on Thursday November 11, on subdued activity, but producers hope to achieve higher prices in the first quarter of 2022, sources told Fastmarkets.Trading activity was slow, with buyers refraining from making purchases and instead assessing the situation. Producers, meanwhile, were looking to achieve higher prices for the first quarter of...Read More
Prices for imports of basic pig iron into China have weakened over the past fortnight with bearish sentiment dominating the country's ferrous complex, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 11.Chinese finished and semi-finished steel prices have been falling for most of the past two weeks, weighing down demand for pig iron, they said.Fastmarkets' fortnightly assessment of the price for pig...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 11 that are worth another look.The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on November 11....Read More
Chinese battery materials producer CNGR Advanced Material Co, co-operating with its Singapore-based partner Rigqueza International, has announced an additional investment of $330 million in its nickel matte project in Indonesia, the company disclosed in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Wednesday November 10.According to the filing, CNGR will use the additional funding in the nickel matte...Read More
Bangladeshi steelmakers have largely opted to stay away from buying in the scrap import market this week in the hope that prices will continue to fall, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 11.- Bangladesh buyers step back from market - Shredded scrap offers rise to Bangladesh amid strong Pakistan market - Taiwanese consumers continue to bid low Bangladesh There was a lack of import ac...Read More
Seaborne coking coal cfr prices continued to drop on Thursday with new offers at lower prices emerging, while there was a trade in the fob market after a quiet week.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $522.01 per tonne, down $8.14 per tonneHard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $464.62 per tonne, down $10.10 per tonnePremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $400.49 per tonne, down $0.99...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Thursday November 11 that are worth another look.The capacity expansion at ArcelorMittal Brasil's Monlevade unit will serve either the domestic or export markets with high-quality special steel products, chief executive officer Jefferson De Paula told Fastmarkets on November 11....Read More
Steel billet prices in Turkey have weakened over the past week amid limited demand in the country, market participants told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 11.Steelmakers in the country have been struggling with weak finished long steel sales in the export outlets. Therefore, demand for billet has remained soft.Suppliers in the Commonwealth of Independent States have lowered their billet offers t...Read More
Steel billet prices in Turkey have weakened over the past week amid limited demand in the country, market participants told Fastmarkets on Thursday November 11.Steelmakers in the country have been struggling with weak finished long steel sales in the export outlets. Therefore, demand for billet has remained soft.Suppliers in the Commonwealth of Independent States have lowered their billet offers t...Read More