The market of last resort has just re-ignited copper's cash-and-carry trade in China for the first time since 2018.Shanghai Futures Exchange copper futures have been trading in a deep contango following the delivery of 106,959 tonnes of copper cathodes onto the SHFE over the past two weeks - the biggest fortnightly inflow on records stretching back to 2003."Recently, the February to March carry is...Read More
After a month-long consultation period, Fastmarkets has discontinued its two zinc ingot premiums for the Indian market. Spot trading interest has been minimal for imported zinc due to the persistently soft rupee against the dollar and local production is said to be sufficient to meet domestic demand in India. Market participants cited a little interest in the following two bi-weekly premiums durin...Read More
Chris Griffith, chief executive officer and executive director of Anglo American Platinum, will step down from his position, the company said on Monday February 17.Griffith's last day at Anglo American Platinum will be April 16, 2020 after leading the company for more than seven years, the company said. His successor is expected to be a candidate from within...Read More
The three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange was higher during morning trading on Monday February 17, climbing above nearby resistance against high turnover, while nickel held above $13,000 per tonne. Copper's underlying price on the LME was recently seen at $5,810 per tonne, up from Friday's closing price of $5,760 per tonne. Turnover was high at just over 6,500 lots exchanged by&nbs...Read More
China's race to contain the coronavirus (2019-nCov), combined with its financial stimulus, are providing the markets with more than enough hope, with risk-on being seen across most of the metals and many equity indices, especially in western markets, this morning, Monday February 17. But this apparent confidence is likely to be fragile as there is still much uncertainty surrounding the virus and i...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were rangebound during morning trading on Monday February 17 with pessimism caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China being tempered slightly by an announcement by the country's finance minister over the weekend.The minister, Liu Kun, wrote on Sunday in Qiushi, the Communist Party magazine, that his ministry would implement me...Read More
A summary of state-owned Steel Authority of India's (Sail) financial results for its third quarter covering the period of October to December, and the first nine months of its financial year 2019-20.In brief Sail reports higher sales and saleable steel production in the third quarter, but lower prices hurt earnings The company said the reduction in prices has hurt the financial performance of all...Read More
Domestic prices for hot-rolled coil in Northern Europe rose in the week to Friday February 14 despite offers from non-European suppliers returning to the market. Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, domestic, exw Northern Europe was ?,?479.34 ($519.12) per tonne on Friday, up by ?,?7.67 per tonne from ?,?471.67 per tonne a week earlier on February 7. The index was calculated based...Read More
Tosyali Algeria plans to start production of hot-rolled coil by the end of 2022 and is targeting output of 2 million tonnes per year, a company spokesperson told Fastmarkets on Friday February 14.The steelmaker will mainly supply the material to automotive and white goods manufacturers, as well as to pipe makers,...Read More
The European Commission (EC) has initiated a review of existing safeguard measures into number of imported steel products, it said on Saturday February 15. "On the basis of [the European] Union interest considerations, [the EC] may have to review certain elements of the safeguard measures in order to take account of recent developments or changed circumstances. Furthermore, such a review should be...Read More
Import prices for steel slab in Southeast Asia and East Asia fell over the past week amid a downtrend in the regional hot-rolled coil market.The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China continued to weigh on prices for flat steel despite Chinese President Xi Jinping urging local businesses to gradually return to work. Fastmarkets' price assessment for steel slab imports, cfr Southeast Asia...Read More
Turkish domestic scrap prices have rebounded over the past week following an upturn in imported scrap values, sources said on Monday February 17.In the middle of last week, imported scrap prices increased sharply in response to improved demand from Turkish steel producers.Fastmarkets' daily index for steel scrap, HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix), US origin, cfr Turkey, was $274.82 per tonne on February 14, up...Read More
Fastmarkets proposes to launch four new ferrous scrap import prices, further bolstering our coverage of Asian scrap markets.The new prices include two prices on a cfr South Korea basis and two on a cfr Bangladesh basis.South Korea is one of Asia's largest ferrous scrap importers, buying large volumes of scrap from origins such as Japan and the US West Coast. Bangladesh, a rapidly growing scrap imp...Read More
Seaborne iron ore prices were up on Monday February 17 amid the gradual return of workers after the extended Lunar New Year holiday in China.Fastmarkets iron ore indices62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $90.48 per tonne, up $1.81 per tonne.62% Fe Pilbara Blend fines, cfr Qingdao: $89.81 per tonne, up $1.81 per tonne.62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $91.84 per tonne, up $2.05 per tonn...Read More
Anglo-Australian iron ore miner Rio Tinto has lowered its iron ore shipment guidance following infrastructure damage across its Pilbara operations in Western Australia. The miner now expects shipments of 324-334 million tonnes in 2020, down from a previous guidance of 330-343 million tonnes, it said on Monday February 17. "Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in Pilbara, Western Australia, are pro...Read More
Seaborne coking coal prices were steady on Monday February 17 amid a muted market.Fastmarkets indicesPremium hard coking coal, fob DBCT: $155.43 per tonne, unchangedPremium hard coking coal, cfr Jingtang: $161.28 per tonne, unchangedHard coking coal, fob DBCT: $127.01 per...Read More
Seaborne iron ore concentrate and pellet demand were dragged down by the reduced appetite for steel products amid the ongoing novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.ConcentrateThe weekly Fastmarkets index for iron ore 66% Fe concentrate, cfr Qingdao stood at $102.70 per tonne on Friday February 14, up by $3.63 per tonne from oa week earlier.Fastmarkets' daily index for iron ore 65% Fe Br...Read More
Demand for rebar in China's domestic market remained weak on Monday due to a lack of manpower in downstream sectors, which continued to put pressure on prices for the long steel product.Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,370-3,400 yuan ($482-487) per tonne, unchanged Northern China (Beijing): 3,370-3,400 yuan per tonne, down 50 yuan per tonneSellers in eastern China kept their offers flat amid weak deman...Read More
China's hot-rolled coil prices were unchanged on Monday February 17 amid thin trading, with tight cash flow making it hard for traders to place orders with mills.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,460-3,480 yuan ($495-498) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,230 yuan per tonne, unchangedA Shanghai-based trader said he had to stop buying from mills recently due to cash flow issues.Thi...Read More
Key data from the pricing sessions in Asia and Europe in the week to Friday February 14. ChinaKey driversFastmarkets' price assessment of antimony, MMTA standard grade II, ddp China, increased in the latest assessment period after some suppliers raised offer prices amid growing buying interest and limited cargoes. Most producers in central China's Lengshuijiang city, a major production hub, were h...Read More