Metals, mining and alloy producers have been scenario-planning in response to the novel coronavirus. The South African government appears to have just removed all but one option.President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the country's mineral resources industry to shut underground mines and furnaces from Thursday March 26, unless they can be operated remotely. The shutdown will last for three weeks an...Read More
Key pricing data from the alumina index, fob Australia pricing session on Monday March 23. Key drivers Fastmarkets' daily alumina index, fob Australia, to $272.41 per tonne on Monday from $275.47 per tonne on Friday March 20. The index is now at its lowest level since May 18, 2017, when the price was $272.10 per tonne. Marks a...Read More
The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outside China has brought with it logistical restrictions, a reconsideration of raw material requirements and concerns over possible disruptions to supply in the coming weeks. Here are five things under consideration by the minor metals and ferro-alloys markets while the situation develops. Adjustments to delivery and payment terms to mitigate risk T...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is causing disruption to immediate supply chains and future demand forecasts across the technology and consumer electronics sector. Since the outbreak gathered pace in January 2020, companies including Apple and Samsung have closed plants, shifted production, and in some cases, revised revenue forecasts. The far-reaching effects of the virus on the g...Read More
The Turkish deep-sea scrap import market started the week in silence on Monday March 23, with some fearing the worst is yet to come with regard to the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), sources told Fastmarkets.The market has been quiet since a $23.90-per-tonne day-on-day price drop on Wednesday March 18, following news of a fresh cargo.Since then, market participants have turned increas...Read More
Turkish domestic auto bundle scrap prices have fallen sharply over the past week, in line with declining scrap import values, with some mills stopping their scrap purchases, sources said on Monday March 23.Turkish scrap import prices fell by 9% last week, amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pandemic.Fastmarkets' daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US origin, cfr Turkey, was $249.0...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
Fastmarkets will continue to provide the price data, news and analytics you rely on in these turbulent times.Dear Colleagues,First and foremost, we hope that you, your family, your friends and your colleagues are keeping well in these uncertain times. Covid-19 has disrupted our economy, our normal work patterns and, for many, our lives. Before I speak to the status of our business continuity...Read More
The rebounds in the metals toward the end of last week do seem to have been countertrend moves as expected; this morning, Monday March 23, the base metals are down across the board on the London Metal Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange. Asian Pacific equity indices were mainly lower this morning, the exception was Japan's Nikkei, but it was closed on Friday for a national holiday, as such, the...Read More
The spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is causing disruption to immediate supply chains and future demand forecasts across the technology and consumer electronics sector. Since the outbreak gathered pace in January 2020, companies including Apple and Samsung have closed plants, shifted production, and in some cases, revised revenue forecasts. The far-reaching effects of the virus on the g...Read More
Hermes Belous Freire has joined Sumitomo Corp as sales manager for cobalt briquettes. Belous Freire is currently based in Switzerland as a consultant, but will relocate to...Read More
Argentina's lithium brine industry have announced that they will suspend their on-site project works until the end of March after the Argentinian government imposed a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country.Australian lithium miners Galaxy Resources and Orocobre announced the suspension of on-site operations at their Argentinian projects on Monday...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
Metals, mining and alloy producers have been scenario-planning in response to the novel coronavirus. The South African government appears to have just removed all but one option.President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the country's mineral resources industry to shut underground mines and furnaces from Thursday March 26, unless they can be operated remotely. The shutdown will last for three weeks an...Read More
Trading activity in the hot-rolled coil market in Northern Europe was slowed by closures at a number of vehicle manufacturers across Europe, although other consuming industries remained relatively active, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday March 23.But at the same time, trading activity in Southern Europe was close to zero, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday March 23 that are worth another look.ArcelorMittal is idling two blast furnaces, in Indiana and Canada, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its impact on end markets.South Africa will enter a 21-day nationwide lockdown from midnight on Thursday March 26 and ordered the country's metals and mining operations to...Read More
CIS export rebar and wire rod prices remained largely unchanged in the week to Monday March 23 with trading activity being limited.Lower levels of trade followed the slowdown of demand in most markets due to the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pandemic."The market is very weak at the moment. If last week there was some activity, today and in the next two weeks it will all be quiet," one trader...Read More
The rebar price in Russia's Central Federal District around Moscow increased in the week to Monday March 23 on a sharp depreciation of the rouble against the dollar. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, cpt Moscow, Russia, including 20% value-added tax (VAT) was 34,500-35,000 roubles ($432-437) per tonne on Monday, up from 34,000-34,500 roubles per...Read More