China's hot-rolled coil prices were largely stable on Thursday January 16 amid thin trading activity, though rising inventory levels have raised concerns over they would trend in the weeks ahead.DomesticEastern China (Shanghai): 3,860-3,880 yuan ($560-563) per tonne, narrowing downward by 10 yuan per tonneNorthern China (Tangshan): 3,590 yuan per tonne, unchangedTrading activity was reported to be...Read More
Lower production rates are keeping China's domestic rebar prices supported amid weakening demand ahead of the Chinese New Year.Eastern China (Shanghai): 3,640-3,670 yuan ($528-532) per tonne, unchangedNorthern China (Beijing): 3,540-3,560 yuan per tonne, unchangedSteel mills that operate electric-arc furnaces have lowered their production rates due to losses attributed to a weakened rebar market a...Read More
China's stainless steel prices decreased slightly ahead of the upcoming January 24-30 Chinese New Year holiday amid sluggish trading due to a segment of the market already starting their breaks well in advance."Producers made minor adjustments to their stainless steel prices, if any at all, because the price of nickel has been mostly stable with only minor movements," a steel processor source in e...Read More
Base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were broadly up at the close of the morning trading session on Thursday January 16, with market sentiment buoyed by the signing of a "phase one" trade agreement between China and the United States on Wednesday.The deal, signed between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and US President Donald Trump at the White House, includes a pledge from Beijing to b...Read More
Key data from Wednesday January 15 pricing session in Shanghai and London. Key drivers Spot cobalt hydroxide payables made further gains after suppliers successfully translated their higher offers into business, with rising demand since late December. Business was concluded across the new range; producers reportedly sitting on comfortable inventories and showing little interest in cheaper bi...Read More
Key data from the Wednesday January 15 pricing session in Shanghai.Key driversThe cobalt sulfate price in China continued to edge higher despite slow trades, with some producers holding back from sales of cargoes to be delivered after the Chinese New Year holiday (January 24-30).Other...Read More
The fate of Allegheny Technology Inc's (ATI) stainless steel plant in Midland, Pennsylvania, hangs in the balance, according to company president and chief executive officer Robert S. Wetherbee.Its survival is threatened by the 25% tariff under Section 232 imposed on imports of nickel-rich steel slabs from Indonesia that are used in the mill to make cold-rolled 60-inch stainless steel sheet coils....Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 8 points in pre-opening trade. Equity index futures were virtually unchanged following release of December Housing Starts released at 8:30 AM EST. Consensus was unchanged from November at 1.365 million units. Actual was 1.608 million units.Gap Stores gained $1.19 to $19.80 after the company announced that it no longer...Read More
Global tin premiums remained flat in the week ended Tuesday January 14, with European market participants maintaining lackluster demand against strong availability of ingots across the region, while both the domestic markets in both the United States and China have shown a slow pickup in demand to start the year.Strong warrant availability cools European ingot demandUS market sentiment gains tract...Read More
The three-month price of lead on the London Metal Exchange was higher at the close of trading on Wednesday January 15, climbing by more than 2.5% to close at its highest level since November 2019 amid high turnover, while a similar upswing in nickel futures saw the price breach nearby resistance.Lead's outright price on the LME closed at $1,999 per tonne on Wednesday afternoon, its highest settlem...Read More
The London Metal Exchange will on February 1 introduce a reporting process that will increase transparency into levels of off-warrant stocks. The exchange announced the plans in November 2019 and aims to attract more metal back in LME sheds. It is controversial, but its passage into the LME rulebook on February 1 follows a consultation last year. Some market participants are now saying the LME sho...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets MB stories you might have missed on Wednesday January 15 that are worth another look.The Chinese steelmaking industry will focus on six key areas in 2020 to maintain its structured and orderly development, China Iron & Steel Association (Cisa) chairman Gao Xiangming said in a speech at a conference last weekend.Lower Chinese production is set to fuel supply deficits in As...Read More
Lower Chinese production is set to fuel supply deficits in Asian aluminium markets in 2020, according to UC Rusal marketing head Roman Andryushin.During 2019, aluminium supply in Asia was not growing due to falling primary aluminium output in China, and this is set to continue this year, Andryushin told Fastmarkets in an interview."Several disruptions and continued reallocation of capacities still...Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday January 15. Key drivers The prices of ferro-titanium and titanium scrap markets were steady in the second week of January, a level it has maintained since December 18. Alloy suppliers achieved higher prices in the United Kingdom compared with deals done lower in the current range in continental Europe, although trading a...Read More
An overview of the minor metals markets and their latest price moves.Read More
Key data from Fastmarkets' pricing session in Europe on Wednesday January 15. Key drivers The prices of ferro-titanium and titanium scrap markets were steady in the second week of January, a level it has maintained since December 18. Alloy suppliers achieved higher prices in the United Kingdom compared with deals done lower in the current range in continental Europe, although trading a...Read More
Turkish steel producers continued to hold back from the deep-sea scrap markets in an attempt to push down prices while they struggled with weak demand and values for finished rebar, sources said on Wednesday January 15.The country's steel producers went through last week with only one deep-sea cargo bought, when a steel mill in the Marmara region booked a European cargo at an average price of $300...Read More
The Chinese steelmaking industry will focus on six key areas in 2020 to maintain its structured and orderly development, China Iron & Steel Association (Cisa) chairman Gao Xiangming said in a speech at a conference last weekend.These are meant to round out the final year of China's 13th Five-Year Plan and contribute to the stable growth and reform of the Chinese economy.1. Maintain stable, efficie...Read More
Equity investors have turned more bullish on lithium miners and processors in 2020 so far, helped by a shift in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) policy. The improved investor confidence could mean a more positive outlook on lithium pricing is developing, after a very bearish 2019. On January 11, China's minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Miao Wei, announced there woul...Read More
Hot-rolled coil prices in the United States continued to climb due to tightened supply in the domestic market, but buyers - who believed prices were doomed to go down - seemed reluctant to accept the higher prices, according to market participants.Fastmarkets' daily steel hot-rolled coil index, fob mill US was calculated at $30.91 per hundredweight ($618.20 per short ton) on Wednesday January 15,...Read More