Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Wednesday June 24 that are worth another look.The threat of Section 232 tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada into the United States has, like the great white shark following the Brody family in the universally panned film, 'Jaws: The Revenge,' returned - akin to a truly awful horror movie franchise.The Materials Services trading arm of...Read More
The threat of Section 232 tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada into the United States has, like the great white shark following the Brody family in the universally panned film, 'Jaws: The Revenge,' returned - akin to a truly awful horror movie franchise. And that's how Neil Herrington, senior vice president for the Americas, US Chamber of Commerce, views reports that the US administration is c...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the LME were mostly lower at the close of trading on Wednesday June 24, with thin turnover a key sign that investor sentiment remains fragile. Nickel's outright price on the London Metal Exchange was worse off this afternoon, falling by 1.26% to close at $12,547 per tonne, its lowest closing price since May 29, while turnover was at just 3,931 lots by th...Read More
Spot lead demand in Southeast Asia is still lackluster despite lockdown easing across Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, while interest in spot zinc units was minimal in all regions, which left premiums unchanged in the week to Tuesday June 23. A backlog of uncleared lead cargoes sit in Indian ports in the fourth week of June, a time that typically would have been a peak production period for batter...Read More
Cost pressures kept China's domestic rebar prices from falling further on Wednesday June 24 despite a pessimistic outlook for demand in the next two months amid high production rates.Domestic Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,560-3,590 yuan ($504-508) per tonne, unchangedGross profits for rebar producers that operate blast furnaces have fallen to around 100 yuan per tonne of gross profit, 50 yuan per to...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.Aluminium: Poised for a technical breakoutFears over a second wave of Covid-19 continue to grow, forcing prices of aluminium and the other base metals to take a pause. Our base-case scenario is that countries will respond more efficiently to contain the virus spread, so economic activity and metal demand should continue to r...Read More
Three-month base metals prices on the LME were mostly lower at the close of trading on Wednesday June 24, with thin turnover a key sign that investor sentiment remains fragile. Nickel's outright price on the London Metal Exchange was worse off this afternoon, falling by 1.26% to close at $12,547 per tonne, its lowest closing price since May 29, while turnover was at just 3,931 lots by th...Read More
The threat of Section 232 tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada into the United States has, like the great white shark following the Brody family in the universally panned film, 'Jaws: The Revenge,' returned - akin to a truly awful horror movie franchise. And that's how Neil Herrington, senior vice president for the Americas, US Chamber of Commerce, views reports that the US administration is c...Read More
Chinese copper premiums continued their uptrend in the week to Tuesday June 23, with market participants noting brand-dependent demand as a driver for the latest increases, while US and European premiums were unchanged in illiquid markets. Brand-dependent, near-term demand strengthens Shanghai premium Sellers continue to dominate in Europe Sluggish US spot market hinders premium moveme...Read More
Netherlands-based aluminium producer Aldel has signed a partnership with solar park operator Ecorus to help accelerate the development of solar power infrastructure in the region, the producer announced on Tuesday June 23.Ecorus is developing a solar power park on a site near to Aldel's smelter at Delfzijl, and the partnership will allow it to feed the entire peak output of 4.5MW from the site int...Read More
Crude steel production in Germany fell by 27% year-on-year in May 2020, following a 24% drop in April due to output adjustments made by mills to address the Covid-19-driven deterioration in steel demand, German steel federation WV Stahl said on Wednesday June 24.Germany's mills produced 2.56 million tonnes of crude steel in May, down from 3.51 million tonnes in the corresponding period of 2019, WV...Read More
Steel billet producers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reduced their offers early this week on a lack of demand in Asia as well as in nearer markets, Fastmarkets learned.Offers from several Russian mills were heard at $370-375 per tonne fob Black Sea earlier this week against $380-385 per tonne fob last week.One source said a Ukraine-based producer offered material to customers i...Read More
Domestic prices for heavy steel plate in Northern Europe have moved down over the past week due to limited demand, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday June 24.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel domestic plate, 8-40mm, exw Northern Europe, was ?,?450-470 ($508-531) per tonne on June 24, down by ?,?20 per tonne week on week from ?,?470-490 per tonne. The assessment was based on deals,...Read More
Domestic prices for steel mesh-quality wire rod in Europe were broadly stable in most regions over the past week, although Italian producers managed to secure slight increases, sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday June 24.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel wire rod (mesh-quality), domestic, delivered Southern Europe was ?,?420-440 ($475-497) per tonne on Wednesday June 24, stable...Read More
The price of steel hollow sections in Europe continued to move downward on Wednesday June 24 with the market remaining weak, sources have told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel sections (medium), domestic, delivered Northern Europe, was ?,?535-550 ($604-621) per tonne on Wednesday, down from ?,?540-560 per tonne tonne a week earlier."Prices are slightly lower but demand is pickin...Read More
The Materials Services trading arm of German diversified industrial group Thyssenkrupp, has teamed up with Munich-based Mantro to form a 50/50 steel scrap joint venture, MT Industry Recycling.The newly formed JV aims to collect waste products direct from metal processing companies, a spokesperson told Fastmarkets."The idea is to be actively looking for existing partners to do so together...Read More
Export prices for Japanese steel scrap fell heavily over the past week with exporters reducing rates to stimulate fresh bookings, market sources told Fastmarkets on Wednesday June 24.Asian buyers shunned Japanese scrap offers last week, citing the fact that prices were too high, and instead concentrated on booking material from other sources such as the United States West Coast.Fastmarkets' price...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap import market remained quiet on Wednesday June 24, with mills continuing to push for lower prices due to weakening finished long steel demand, sources told Fastmarkets.Seel producers in the country have been staying away from deep-sea scrap purchases since the beginning of last week, when demand for rebar, especially in the local market, started to weaken.Prices for...Read More
The seaborne premium hard coking coal price in the China cfr market leapt by 3.4% day on day on Wednesday June 24 due to deals agreed at higher prices, while demand for seaborne coking coal in Japan is increasing gradually, market participants told Fastmarkets. Fastmarkets indices Premium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $113.79 per tonne, up $0.86 per tonne Premium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $122...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices rebounded on Wednesday June 24 amid active trading ahead of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival holidays from June 25-27.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $103.34 per tonne, up $2.72 per tonne. 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $106.49 per tonne, up $2.27 per tonne. 58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingdao: $92.84 per tonne, up $1.56 per tonne....Read More